Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Sumatran Shortwing
Brachypteryx saturata
Sumatran Shortwing (Brachypteryx saturata) — 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 Sumatran Shortwing (Brachypteryx saturata) 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 saturata
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 Sumatran 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 Sumatran Shortwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Sumatran Shortwing (Brachypteryx saturata) belongs to the Muscicapidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR montane Sumatra.
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 229,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sumatran Shortwing?
The Sumatran Shortwing is a small bird that weighs around 17.7 g.
Where does the Sumatran Shortwing live?
The Sumatran Shortwing is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR montane Sumatra, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Sumatran Shortwing belong to?
The Sumatran Shortwing (Brachypteryx saturata) belongs to the Muscicapidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Sumatran Shortwing eat?
The Sumatran Shortwing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Sumatran Shortwing migrate?
The Sumatran Shortwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Sumatran 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 Sumatran Shortwing's range?
The Sumatran Shortwing has a mapped global range of about 229,000 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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