Pygmy Cupwing

Alternative names: Brown Wren-Babbler; Lesser Scaly-breasted Wren-Babbler

Photo by Ayuwat J
Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiangmai, Thailand

Pnoepyga pusilla

Identification

With 7.5 - 9cm a tiny, almost tailless Babbler with two morphs.
Pale morph:

• From crown to rump greyish olive-brown with dark scaling
• Head side greyish olive-brown too, ear-coverts with pale shaft streaks
• Chin and throat white with narrow scaling
• Breast and belly white with scaly effect

Dark morph:

• Darker olive brown above
• White below replaced with ochre

Can be confused with Scaly-breasted Wren-Babbler or Nepal Wren-Babbler where ranges overlap.

Distribution

	Found in SE-Asia. In the Himalayas from Nepal over Sikkim and Bhutan to NE India, including Hill States, Myanmar and to S China. Also in Indochina, S Vietnam, S Thailand and the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Flores and West Timor Common in parts of its range.
	Legend • P. p. pusilla; year-round • P. p. annamensis; year-round • P. p. harterti; year-round • P. p. lepida; year-round • P. p. rufa; year-round • P. p. everetti; year-round • P. p. timorensis; year-round • P. p. formosana; year-round (now full species: Taiwan Wren-Babbler) Maps/Texts consulted1,2

Taxonomy

Clements³ accepts seven subspecies:

• P. p. pusilla in the Himalayas, Myanmar, China and N Thailand
• P. p. annamensis in Cambodia and S Vietnam
• P. p. harterti in S. Thailand and on the Malay Peninsula
• P. p. lepida on Sumatra
• P. p. rufa on Java
• P. p. everetti on Flores
• P. p. timorensis on Timor

The form of Timor may merit full species status.¹

Habitat

Floor and understorey of broadleaf evergreen forest, mossy boulders, fallen logs, forest ravines, dense fern growth. Generally found between 200 and 3050m. Found in similar habitat like Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler but on lower altitudes.¹

Behaviour

More often heard than seen.
Resident species with some local altitudinal movements.¹

Diet

Forages on the ground, sometimes up to 2m in trees, feeding on ants, other insects and spiders.

Breeding

Breeding season differs through range, March to September in northern parts, July to May in Java, November to December in Sumatra. The nest is a ball of moss or a built-in structure made of long strands of green moss, the inner part formed to a cup. It's placed in moss, orchids, ferns or creepers hanging down from large trees, close to the ground. Lays 2 - 6 eggs.

Vocalisation

<flashmp3>Pygmy Wren Babbler Moxi.mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
Recorded by china guy, Sichuan, China, August 2011

References

1. 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
2. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
3. 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

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Pygmy Cupwing. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Pygmy_Cupwing

External Links

Search for photos of Pygmy Cupwing in the gallery

• Arthur Grosset's Birds
• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages