Photo: (c) desertnaturalist, some rights reserved (CC BY) / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Gould’s Shortwing
Heteroxenicus stellatus
Gould's Shortwing (Heteroxenicus stellatus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Gould’s Shortwing (Heteroxenicus stellatus) is a member of the Muscicapidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 23 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 Heteroxenicus
- Species stellatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 23 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Gould’s Shortwing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Gould’s Shortwing is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Gould’s Shortwing (Heteroxenicus stellatus) belongs to the Muscicapidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Himalayas to nw Vietnam.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 23 g, with a wing length of about 7.1 cm and a tail of around 4.7 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 238,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Gould’s Shortwing?
The Gould’s Shortwing is a small bird that weighs around 23 g.
Where does the Gould’s Shortwing live?
The Gould’s Shortwing is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Himalayas to nw Vietnam, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Gould’s Shortwing belong to?
The Gould’s Shortwing (Heteroxenicus stellatus) belongs to the Muscicapidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Gould’s Shortwing eat?
The Gould’s Shortwing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Gould’s Shortwing migrate?
The Gould’s Shortwing is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Gould’s 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.
What sound does the Gould’s Shortwing make?
1 real field recording of the Gould’s Shortwing — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Gould’s Shortwing's range?
The Gould’s Shortwing has a mapped global range of about 238,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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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.