Alternative names: White-eyed Fulvetta; Black-eyebrowed Fulvetta; Nepal Babbler, Nepal Quaker Babbler
- Alcippe nipalensis
Identification
A medium-sized Fulvetta (12.5 - 13cm)3:
- Prominent blackish lateral crown-stripe
- Broad white eye-ring
- Grey head
- Whitish throat
Juveniles have warmer-tinged upperparts, flanks and vent. In comparison to Brown-cheeked Fulvetta this species is smaller-billed and more delicate.
Distribution
Found in the Himalayas from E Nepal over Bhutan to NE India (Arunachal Pradesh), adjacent Tibet and N Burma. Also in the hills of Assam, E Bangladesh, Mizoram and W Burma.
Locally common in parts of its range.1
Taxonomy
Clements2 accepts three subspecies:
- A. n. nipalensis in the Himalayas
- A. n. commoda in Assam and N Burma
- A. n. stanfordi in E Bangladesh, NE India (Mizoram) and Burma (Chin Hills, Arakan Yoma Mountains)
Other authorities1 merge commoda with the nominate subspecies nipalensis.
After the reorganisation of the Fulvettas this species would remain in Alcippe.
Habitat
Moist lowland forests and montanes. In Nepal from 245m up to 2285m, in Bhutan from 600m to 2000m.1
Behaviour
Feeds on insects, nectar and berries.
Outside breeding season usually seen in highly actively groups of up to 20 birds, sometimes together with other species.
Breeding season from March to July. The nest is a deep, compact cup, made of dead bamboo, fine grasses, bark fibre and palm bark. It's placed in a bush or bamboo some 0.3 - 1.5 m above the ground. Lays 2 - 5 eggs.
Resident species, maybe some altitudinal movements.1
References
- del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Christie, D.A. eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 12. Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-96553-42-6
- Clements James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 978080144509
- Rasmussen P.C. and Anderton J.C. 2005. Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Washington and Barcelona: Smithsonian Institute and Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-87334-67-9
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
