Photo: Sun Jiao (Interaccoonale) / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chinese Shortwing
Brachypteryx sinensis
Chinese Shortwing (Brachypteryx sinensis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
The Chinese Shortwing (Brachypteryx sinensis) is a member of the Muscicapidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 17.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Muscicapidae Chats, Old World Flycatchers
- Genus Brachypteryx
- Species sinensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 17.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chinese Shortwing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Chinese Shortwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Chinese Shortwing (Brachypteryx sinensis) is a member of the Muscicapidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR se China.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 17.7 g, with a wing length of about 6.4 cm and a tail of around 5.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.6 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chinese Shortwing?
The Chinese Shortwing is a small bird that weighs around 17.7 g.
Where does the Chinese Shortwing live?
The Chinese Shortwing is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR se China, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Chinese Shortwing belong to?
The Chinese Shortwing (Brachypteryx sinensis) belongs to the Muscicapidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Chinese Shortwing eat?
The Chinese Shortwing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Chinese Shortwing migrate?
The Chinese Shortwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Chinese Shortwing endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Chinese Shortwing's range?
The Chinese Shortwing has a mapped global range of about 1.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Muscicapidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Muscicapidae
A field guide to the Muscicapidae family — 355 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.