Brown Fulvetta Alcippe brunneicauda Scientific name definitions

14·5–15 cm; 14·5–16 g. Nondescript “nun-babbler”, plain head without lateral crownstripes. Forehead, crown and nape are drab greyish mid-brown, head side paler and greyer, upperparts rather warm-tinged mid-brown, slightly more rufous-chestnut on rump and uppertail-coverts; upperwing blackish-brown on inner webs, outer fringes much paler rufescent brown; lores and submoustachial area greyish mixed with dull whitish; throat whitish, washed pale brown, lower throat side and wash across breast pale greyish-brown, tinged pinkish or creamy, belly whiter, breast side and flanks pale greyish-brown, warm-tinged on lower flanks and thighs, vent whitish-brown; iris grey to dark brown; bill grey to dark brown, lower mandible often paler grey-brown; legs pale lavender to brown. Sexes similar. Juvenile presumably resembles adult.

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S Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Batu Is, N Natunas and Borneo.

Primary evergreen forest, older secondary forest, overgrown forest clearings, rubber and Albizia, lightly logged forest; often close to streams. Up to 900 m in Thailand and to 760 m in Peninsular Malaysia; to 1000 m in Sumatra; generally to 1200 m, rarely 1430 m, in Borneo.

Resident.

Insects, including beetles (Coleoptera), caterpillars, grasshoppers (Orthoptera); also red berries. Found in pairs or in small parties, often in company with other species in mixed flocks. Usually forages in lower middle storey, sometimes in low vegetation, by gleaning foliage.

Song a rather slow, measured, high-pitched and slightly undulating “hi-tu-tu ti-tu ti-tu”, “hi-tu hi-tu hi-tu” and “do-dí-do-dí-do-díi-do” or descending “hi ti-tu ti ti-tu ti-tu” and similar, repeated after rather long intervals. Calls with rather stressed “whit” notes and short harsh rattles.

Apr–May in Thailand, Jun in Natunas and Sumatra; in Borneo, birds in breeding condition in May–Jul (Sabah), dependent juvenile in Aug, and adult feeding young in Feb. Nest reported in Thailand, but undescribed. No further information.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near-threatened. Generally uncommon to fairly common in continental range: fairly common in S Thailand; common in Taman Negara National Park, in Peninsular Malaysia. Uncommon in primary and secondary habitats in Sumatra, where present in Gunung Leuser and Bukit Tigapuluh National Parks; uncommon in Batu Is. Widespread in lowland mixed dipterocarp forests in Borneo, and common in Sabah, including in Danum Valley Conservation Area and on Mt Kinabalu; commonest bird species on Mt Penrissen, in Sarawak, and frequent in Berau district forest, in E Kalimantan; present in Similajau National Park (Sarawak) and Tanjung Puting National Park (S Kalimantan), and common in Gunung Niut Nature Reserve (W Kalimantan). A Sundaic lowland-forest species, thus highly susceptible to the extensive forest destruction throughout its range; preference for submontane forests and use of second growth, however, imply that it is not immediately at risk.