Rufous-winged fulvetta

Rufous-winged fulvetta
in Vietnam
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pellorneidae
Genus: Schoeniparus
Species:
S. castaneceps
Binomial name
Schoeniparus castaneceps
(Hodgson, 1837)
Synonyms
Alcippe castaneceps
Pseudominla castaneceps

The rufous-winged fulvetta (Schoeniparus castaneceps) 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.

The black-crowned fulvetta (S. klossi) was until recently included here as a subspecies.

This 11 cm long bird has a dark-streaked chestnut crown, white supercilium, brown upperparts and pale underparts. The wings show a striking contrast between the bright rufous primaries and the black coverts.

This is a noisy species with a rich warbled ti-du-di-du-di-du-di-du song and wheezy tsi-tsi-tsi-tsi call.

It is common in evergreen montane forests above 1200 m ASL, often feeding on vertical trunks.

Rufous-winged fulvetta from Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, West Sikkim