Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Dark-backed Sibia
Heterophasia melanoleuca
Dark-backed Sibia (Heterophasia melanoleuca) — 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 Dark-backed Sibia (Heterophasia melanoleuca) is a member of the Leiothrichidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 32.6 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 Leiothrichidae Laughingthrushes & Allies
- Genus Heterophasia
- Species melanoleuca
Quick facts
- Weight
- 32.6 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Leiothrichidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Dark-backed Sibia is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Dark-backed Sibia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Dark-backed Sibia (Heterophasia melanoleuca) is a member of the Leiothrichidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Southeast Asia.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 32.6 g, with a wing length of about 8.5 cm and a tail of around 10.5 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 178,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Dark-backed Sibia?
The Dark-backed Sibia is a small bird that weighs around 32.6 g.
Where does the Dark-backed Sibia live?
The Dark-backed Sibia is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Southeast Asia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Dark-backed Sibia belong to?
The Dark-backed Sibia (Heterophasia melanoleuca) belongs to the Leiothrichidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Dark-backed Sibia eat?
The Dark-backed Sibia is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Dark-backed Sibia migrate?
The Dark-backed Sibia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Dark-backed Sibia 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 Dark-backed Sibia make?
1 real field recording of the Dark-backed Sibia — 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 Dark-backed Sibia's range?
The Dark-backed Sibia has a mapped global range of about 178,000 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
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