The pygmy cupwing or pygmy wren-babbler, is a species of bird in the Pnoepyga wren-babblers family, Pnoepygidae. It is found in southern and eastern Asia from the Himalayas to the Lesser Sunda Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.
Region
Southern and Eastern Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs from the Himalayan foothills through southern China and Indochina to the Malay Peninsula and the Greater and Lesser Sunda Islands. It inhabits moist evergreen forest, secondary growth, and bamboo thickets. The species favors shaded ravines, mossy slopes, and streamside tangles with abundant leaf litter. It is primarily terrestrial, staying in dense cover from lowlands to montane zones. Local altitudinal movements may occur following seasonal changes in temperature or prey abundance.
Altitude Range
0–3000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Among the smallest passerines, the pygmy cupwing has an almost invisible tail and moves mouse-like through dense undergrowth. Its song is remarkably loud and penetrating for its size, often the best clue to its presence. It belongs to the unique family Pnoepygidae and is notoriously difficult to see, preferring to stay near the forest floor.
Temperament
secretive and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low to the ground
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, maintaining small territories within dense undergrowth. Builds a domed or ball-shaped nest of moss and plant fibers close to the ground or on a bank. Both sexes are believed to contribute to nesting duties, and pairs keep in close contact by voice.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A loud, high-pitched series of clear, ringing notes that may accelerate or rise slightly in pitch. Calls include thin, sharp chips used to maintain contact in dense cover.
Plumage
Compact, finely patterned brown plumage with a scaly effect on the breast and barring on the flanks; very short or stubby tail. Underparts are brownish with pale scalloping; upperparts darker and subtly barred.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small arthropods such as ants, beetles, spiders, and insect larvae. It gleans prey from leaf litter, mossy trunks, and the bases of shrubs and ferns. Foraging is methodical and close to the ground, with short hops and frequent pauses to probe and pick.
Preferred Environment
Dense understory of moist forest, including bamboo and tangled thickets, especially near streams and shaded ravines. Often forages among fallen logs, roots, rocks, and leaf litter where cover is thick.
