Swinhoe's minivet or the brown-rumped minivet is a bird in the cuckooshrike family, Campephagidae. The species was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1861.
Region
East and Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Breeds mainly in southern and southeastern China, with movements southward outside the breeding season. In winter it ranges into northern Indochina and parts of the Malay Peninsula. It favors broadleaf and mixed forests, secondary woodland, forest edges, and riverine corridors. The species typically occupies the mid- to upper canopy, occasionally descending to edges and clearings during foraging.
Altitude Range
0–1800 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Swinhoe's minivet, also called the brown-rumped minivet, is a small cuckooshrike first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1861. It is often confused with the ashy minivet but shows a distinctive brown rump and subtler contrasts. The species forages high in the canopy and frequently joins mixed-species flocks in forests and wooded edges.
Khao Yai National Park - Thailand
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile, darting canopy flights
Social Behavior
Often travels in small flocks and frequently joins mixed-species foraging parties in the canopy. Pairs form during the breeding season and defend a small territory around the nest. Nest is a neat cup placed on an exposed branch, with both sexes participating in care.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Voice is a series of thin, high-pitched whistles and sibilant notes. Contact calls are sharp, clipped 'tsee' or 'tsip' given repeatedly while foraging.
