The grey-cheeked fulvetta or Morrison's fulvetta is a bird in the family Alcippeidae. The species was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1863. The grey-cheeked fulvetta is part of a species complex and the nominate morrisonia is now restricted to endemic Taiwan birds, with David's fulvetta, Huet's fulvetta and Yunnan fulvetta now recognised as a separate species.
Region
East Asia (Taiwan)
Typical Environment
Occurs throughout Taiwan’s montane broadleaf and mixed evergreen forests, especially in areas with dense undergrowth. It frequents forest edges, secondary growth, bamboo thickets, and shrubby clearings, and adapts well to selectively logged or disturbed habitats. Birds move through the understory to midstory in busy flocks, often alongside other small insectivores. It is largely absent from low, open lowlands and heavily urbanized areas.
Altitude Range
300–2800 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The grey-cheeked fulvetta, also called Morrison's fulvetta, is a small babbler endemic to Taiwan. It was formerly treated as part of a wider species complex, with David's, Huet's, and Yunnan fulvettas now recognized as separate species. In Taiwan’s montane forests it is one of the most frequently heard songsters and commonly joins mixed-species foraging flocks.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats through dense cover
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs or family groups that readily join mixed-species flocks. Builds a neat cup nest low in shrubs or dense understory vegetation. Breeding typically occurs in spring to early summer, with both parents involved in care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Bright, sweet, whistled phrases interspersed with thin chips and twitters, delivered at a lively pace. Contact calls are soft, scolding notes used to keep flocks together.
