The rufous-winged fulvetta is a bird species of the family Pellorneidae. Its common name is misleading, because it is not a close relative of the "typical" fulvettas, which are now in the genus Fulvetta.
Region
Eastern Himalayas to Indochina
Typical Environment
Occurs from the Eastern Himalayas through northeastern India and Bhutan into Myanmar, southern China (e.g., Yunnan), northern Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. It favors humid montane broadleaf evergreen and oak–rhododendron forests with dense bamboo or shrub undergrowth. Birds forage from the understory to mid-canopy, frequently along mossy trunks and tangled vines. It tolerates some secondary growth and forest edges but is most numerous in mature, moist forest. Local altitudinal movements may occur following food availability.
Altitude Range
900–3000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Despite its name, the rufous-winged fulvetta is not closely related to the typical fulvettas now placed in the genus Fulvetta; it belongs to the babbler family Pellorneidae. It is a lively, canopy-to-understory forager that often joins mixed-species flocks in montane forests. The prominent rufous wing panel is a key field mark when it flits through dense foliage. It makes soft, high-pitched calls that help flockmates keep contact in thick vegetation.
Rufous-winged fulvetta from Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, West Sikkim
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small parties and commonly joins mixed-species feeding flocks. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low in shrubs or bamboo, with both parents involved in care. Generally sedentary with some local upslope or downslope movements depending on season and food.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
High-pitched, thin tsee-tsee series and soft scolding chips delivered from cover. Pairs may give antiphonal notes that help maintain contact in dense vegetation.
Plumage
Warm brown upperparts with a distinct rufous panel on the flight feathers; paler buffy underparts with slightly warmer flanks; fine, neat feathering suited to dense foliage.
Diet
Primarily small arthropods such as insects, spiders, and their larvae gleaned from leaves, twigs, and mossy bark. It occasionally snaps at small prey flushed by flock mates. Some individuals take small berries or seeds opportunistically, especially in lean seasons.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in the understory to midstory of humid montane forest, especially where bamboo or dense shrub layers are present. Often forages along moss-covered branches, fallen logs, and forest edges near trails.
