Rusty-bellied Shortwing Brachypteryx hyperythra Scientific name definitions

E Himalayas in extreme N West Bengal, Sikkim (possibly adjacent W Bhutan), Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, and adjacent extreme N Myanmar (1 King, B. F., H. Buck, R. Ferguson, T. Fisher, C. Goblet, H. Nickel, and W. Suter (2001). Birds recorded during two expeditions to north Myanmar (Burma). Forktail 17:29–40. Close ) and SE Tibet (2 Clement, P., and C. Rose (2015). Robins and Chats. Christopher Helm, London, United Kingdom. Close ), NW & C Yunnan (3 Fei, W., Luming, L., Jianyun, G., Dao, Y., Wanzhao, H., Ting, Y., Ji, X., Qiang, L. and Xiaojun, Y. (2015). Birds of the Ailao Mountains, Yunnan province, China. Forktail. 31: 47–54. Close ).

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened, and previously, Vulnerable. Restricted-range species: present in Eastern Himalayas EBA. Global population placed at 2500–10,000 mature individuals; considered declining, apparently in response to forest clearance and degradation probably mainly through logging, small-scale fuelwood collection, conversion to tea plantations, shifting agriculture and livestock grazing. In recent review, 19 localities mapped, of which only nine known to involve post-1980 records. Very rare in China, and generally considered very scarce and local, although possibly greatly overlooked; range may be found to extend to Nepal, Bhutan and SE Tibet. Fairly dense population discovered in Lava area of West Bengal in 1996, indicating that species can go undetected in relatively well-watched areas; concerted efforts to find this species in Bhutan, however, have failed, implying that it may be very local. Recorded only recently in N Myanmar. Observed in Namdapha National Park and Mehao, Dibang and Kamleng Wildlife Sanctuaries, in India. Range-wide surveys and detailed ecological study to determine year-round requirements needed, along with major initiative to work with local communities to conserve forest areas in which it occurs.