The rufous-browed flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is native to Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It was formerly placed in the genus Ficedula.
Region
Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs in montane evergreen and mossy forests of Indonesia (Sumatra/Borneo), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. It keeps to dense understory near streams, ravines, and forest edges, often where ferns and bamboo are abundant. The species is typically local but can be fairly common where habitat remains intact. It generally remains within forest interiors but may appear along shaded footpaths and clearings.
Altitude Range
600–2500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A small forest flycatcher of the family Muscicapidae, it keeps close to dense, shaded undergrowth in montane forests. It was formerly placed in the genus Ficedula but is now treated in Anthipes. The species often joins mixed-species flocks and can be surprisingly confiding when foraging along trails. Its thin, high whistles can be hard to pinpoint in the damp, mossy forest it favors.
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between low perches
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs in the breeding season, it often joins mixed-species flocks while foraging. Nests are neat cups placed low on banks, tree roots, or among ferns near streams. Both parents typically attend the nest and feed the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of thin, high-pitched whistles and squeaks delivered from low concealed perches. Calls are soft and ventriloquial, often giving the impression of distance in dense understory.
