Pygmy Cupwing
NamePygmy Cupwing
Common NamePygmy Cupwing
Scientific NamePnoepyga pusilla
FamilyPnoepygidae
Wingspan (cm)13.5
Length (cm)8.5
Weight (g)9.5
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are dark brown, often with a rufous wash on the head and nape. The underparts are distinctly marked with a scaly pattern of white feathers edged in dark brown or black, giving a mottled appearance. It has a short, stubby tail.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalizations include a high-pitched, thin, and often repeated 'tsee-tsee-tsee' or 'swee-swee-swee' song, sometimes delivered as a rapid trill.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound across the Himalayas and Southeast Asia, including parts of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Borneo).
Identifying FeaturesVery small size, Extremely short tail, Scaly white and dark brown underparts, Brown upperparts, Terrestrial and skulking behavior
Description
The Pygmy Cupwing is a tiny, short-tailed bird with cryptic brown plumage, often found skulking in dense forest undergrowth. It is primarily terrestrial, foraging for invertebrates among leaf litter on the forest floor.
