Rufous-faced Warbler Abroscopus albogularis Scientific name definitions

8–9 cm; c. 4·7–5 g. Tiny, rather slim warbler with rather broad bill . Nominate race has forehead and side of head, including superciliary area, cinnamon-rufous, central crown and nape buffy olive but obscured by long, bold black lateral band at side of crown, widening towards nape side; upperparts olive-green, contrasting whitish-yellow rump patch; wings and tail browner with olive-green feather fringes; chin whitish, throat blackish, flecked and streaked with white (white disappearing through feather wear, in worn plumage can appear black-throated); chest, foreflanks and undertail-coverts light yellow (yellow chest­band particularly narrow and inconspicuous in worn plumage), remainder of underparts clear silky white; underwing-coverts pale yellow; iris dark brown; maxilla medium brown with dull pinkish cutting edges, mandible dull pinkish; legs rather pale, pinkish brown or yellowish brown. Sexes similar, but female has whiter throat, spotted with black. Juvenile is duller than adult, with rufous of head washed olive, duller black crownstripes, virtually no yellow on chest. Race <em>fulvifacies</em> is darker, more richly coloured overall, than nominate, with richer rufous face , has very little or no colour in breastband ; hugonis is similarly darker green above, but has even paler rufous face than nominate.

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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.

Undergrowth of evergreen forest, especially bamboos, in mountain foothills; also bamboo thickets and secondary scrub in relatively open country. Chiefly between 600 m and 1200 m, but has been reported as low as 300 m and up to 1800 m.

Resident; possibly some seasonal altitudinal movement.

Feeds almost entirely on tiny invertebrates gleaned from foliage. Forages chiefly in understorey; seems hyperactive, restlessly flicking wings and flaring tail, freely venturing higher to outer canopy, then tumbling back down to undergrowth, flycatching on the way; although foraging in low bushes, it rarely descends to ground level. Small numbers may be scattered among mixed-species flocks outside breeding season.

Song a repeated very high-pitched, drawn-out plaintive whistle, rendered as e.g. “tititiriiii tititiriiii tititiriiii’; has also been transcribed as high-pitched scraping “trrrrr”. Shrill twittering, probably a form of contact note, also reported.

Season early Apr to Jun in NE India. Nest constructed by both sexes, a base of bamboo leaves, fibres and rootlets, with cup of felted moss in centre, typically placed in hollow in bamboo, close to stream. Clutch 3–5 eggs; incubation by both sexes. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Locally common to rare; very localized in several parts of range. Very rare in Nepal, having only recently been rediscovered in Ilam district, in extreme E. In India, scarce and little known in N West Bengal and Sikkim, but seems to be not uncommon in the hills farther E (in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram). Locally common in Bhutan, having been recorded from the S Dzongkhags of Geylegphug, Tongsa and Shemgang. No recent records from Bangladesh, but likely to survive in Chittagong Hill Tracts. In Myanmar, recently described as relatively common in N and in W (Chin Hills); extending into NW Thailand, where rare. In Vietnam, not uncommon in Tonkin and seemingly also breeding in C Annam and in adjacent parts of Laos, where locally common. Locally quite common also in China and Taiwan. This species’ tolerance of secondary habitats, e.g. scrub-jungle, should ensure its survival.