Alternative name: Malaysian Fulvetta
- Alcippe brunneicauda
Identification
14.5 - 15cm. A nondescript Fulvetta.
- Plain head without lateral crownstripes
- Greyish mid-brown forehead, crown and nape, paler and greyer head side
- Warm-tinged mid-brown upperparts, slightly more rufous-chestnut on rump and uppertail coverts
- Upperwing blackish-brown on inner webs, outer fringes much paler rufescent brown
Sexes similar, juveniles like adults.
Distribution
Found from south Thailand through the Malay Peninsula, locally on Sumatra, Borneo and Batu and Natunas Islands.
Generally uncommon to fairly common in range.
Taxonomy
Clements accepts two subspecies[1]:
- A. b. eriphaea on Borneo
- A. b. brunneicauda in the rest of range
Other authorities consider the differences trivial or undetectable in larger samples and treat this species as monotypic.
Habitat
Primary evergreen forest, older secondary forest, lightly logged forest. Up to 900m in Thailand, 1000m in Sumatra, sometimes higher on Borneo.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects and berries.
Forages in lower middle storey, sometimes also in low vegetation, by gleaning foliage.
Usually found in pairs or in small groups, often in bird-waves.
Breeding season April to May in Thailand, May to July on Borneo. The nest is undescribed.
Resident species.
References
- Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Brown Fulvetta. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Brown_Fulvetta
