Photo: Devonpike / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Himalayan Shortwing
Brachypteryx cruralis
Himalayan Shortwing (Brachypteryx cruralis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Himalayan Shortwing (Brachypteryx cruralis) 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 cruralis
Where it lives
Central Himalayas and Myanmar to south-central, southern China, northwestern Thailand and northern Indochina
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 Himalayan 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 Himalayan Shortwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Himalayan Shortwing (Brachypteryx cruralis) is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR c Himalayas and Myanmar to sc, s China, nw Thailand and n Indochina.
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 1.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Himalayan Shortwing?
The Himalayan Shortwing is a small bird that weighs around 17.7 g.
Where does the Himalayan Shortwing live?
The Himalayan Shortwing is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR c Himalayas and Myanmar to sc, s China, nw Thailand and n Indochina, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Himalayan Shortwing belong to?
The Himalayan Shortwing (Brachypteryx cruralis) belongs to the Muscicapidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Himalayan Shortwing eat?
The Himalayan Shortwing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Himalayan Shortwing migrate?
The Himalayan Shortwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Himalayan 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 Himalayan Shortwing make?
1 real field recording of the Himalayan 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 Himalayan Shortwing's range?
The Himalayan Shortwing has a mapped global range of about 1.7 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.
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Guides for this bird
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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.