Brown-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe poioicephala Scientific name definitions

16·5 cm; 17–23 g. Relatively large “nun-babbler” with greyish-buff head side, distinctly buff underparts; lacks white eyering. Nominate race has crown dull, slightly brown-tinged grey, shading to dull rufous-tinged brown on upperparts, with stronger chestnut-brown on upperwing and tail; lores, superciliary area, ear-coverts, cheek and neck side a shade paler than crown; chin, submoustachial area and underparts very pale buffy tan, belly whitish-buff, flanks buffish-tan; iris dull white to greyish-brown, sometimes brown; upper mandible blackish-horn to dark grey, lower mandible greyish or bluish; legs greyish-brown to flesh-pink. Sexes similar. Juvenile has upperparts, edges of wings and tail browner, iris slate-grey, gape and mouth bright yellow, paler parts of bill yellowish. Races differ mainly in tone of plumage: brucei is slightly larger and paler overall than nominate, crown and nape mid-grey, head side, upperparts, underparts and wing fringes paler, tail not quite so dark; fusca has crown and nape slightly darker than previous, upperparts intermediate in tone between previous and nominate (lacking grey on back); phayrei is very like previous, but slightly colder above and below; haringtoniae has upperparts somewhat darker and richer than last, more rufous-tinged (approaching nominate), crown similar (pronounced crownstripes), head side and underparts richer; alearis is very like last above, but (apart from crown) very slightly more greyish-olive, lateral crownstripes extending forward to bill base (but extremely faint), head side duller and greyer, underparts slightly less rich buff, wings duller; karenni is roughly intermediate between haringtoniae and phayrei, with indistinct crownstripes; davisoni resembles last but with even less distinct crownstripes, and upperparts slightly darker.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Bushes and small trees in evergreen and mixed moist deciduous forest, teak, secondary growth, sholas, mixed bamboo-jungle, scrub, occasionally gardens. At 855–2100 m (up to 1000 m in E) in peninsular India; foothills to 1000 m in Bangladesh; 520 m in China; up to 1520 m (mainly below 1200 m) in SE Asia.

Resident; described as a local migrant in Kaziranga National Park, in India, but this not substantiated by other evidence.

Ants and other insects; also nectar, particularly of Erythrina. Usually found in parties of 6–10 individuals, sometimes up to 20 or more. Forages in middle storey and undergrowth but also ascends to canopy; often 9 m above ground. Often forms nucleus of mixed-species feeding flocks.

Sings with repeated pleasant phrases of spaced, fairly even notes, which usually rise at end, “chu’uwi-uwi-uwee”, “i’chiwi-uwi-uwee”, “yi’chiwi-wi-uwuuee” and similar, sometimes more slurred “ch’uwi-u-uu-uwi-uwee”; songs of brucei and nominate have been described as having first few notes shorter than rest and rising slightly and last ones rising again slightly, with beginning and ending softer, e.g. “tu-wi-tweee-tuu-tuwee-túúúwéée”, with some versions more drawn-out, some faster, and most ending on short downslur; songs of fusca similar but descend only slightly and then ascend strongly, the strophe tending upwards, e.g. “tui-tui-tui-tuwee-twéé-túéé”. Calls with harsh buzzy spluttering rattles when agitated, e.g. “wit-i-rrrr”, “witt-witt”, “witch-ititititit” and “whi-chirru”, also higher “whi-sihihihi”.

Jan–Nov in India, Mar–Sept in Bangladesh and Jan–Sept in SE Asia. Nest a roughly built compact deep cup, sometimes almost cone-shaped, made of green moss, dead leaves, grasses, grass roots, moss roots, rootlets, plant fibres and fine twigs, sometimes plastered with cobweb, lichen or wool, lined with black moss roots, fern roots, and rootlets, placed usually 0·6–1·8 m (sometimes 3 m) above ground in bush, sapling, bamboo or fern. Clutch 2–3 eggs, white to pale pink, with blotches, smudges and streaks of reddish-brown to purple-black and clouds of pale grey to inky-purple; incubation by both sexes. No other information.

Not globally threatened. In India, common in W Mysore S to W Tamil Nadu; locally very common in hills of peninsular India; uncommon in Kaziranga and Nameri National Parks (Assam); common in Khasi and Cachar Hills (Nagaland and Manipur), and present in Dampa Tiger Reserve (Mizoram). Common at least locally in Bangladesh. Locally common in limited range in China. Generally common in SE Asian range: very common in Myanmar; common in Thailand, including in Doi Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary (in NW), Khao Yai National Park (in NE) and Kaeng Krachan National Park (in W); present in Nam Kading National Biodiversity Conservation Area, in Laos; present in Ba Be National Park, in N Vietnam, and in five protected areas in the Annamese Lowlands Endemic Bird Area.