Fun Lesser Shortwing Facts For Kids

The lesser shortwing (Brachypteryx leucophris) is a type of shortwing bird belonging to the order, family, genus Passeriformes, Muscicapidae, Brachypteryx respectively. Their distribution occurs all over Southeast Asia, ranging from the Himalayas to peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, and Java. These small round birds are known for their relatively short tail and wing feathers, which all shortwing birds possess. They are mostly insectivorous in nature and have various breeding periods depending on subspecies to subspecies.

To learn more about these amazing birds of the world, read on! For more relatable content, check out these vermillion flycatcher facts and varied thrush facts for kids.

What type of animal is a lesser shortwing?

The lesser shortwing (Brachypteryx leucophris) is a type of Old World bird that can be found in Asia.

What class of animal does a lesser shortwing belong to?

The lesser shortwing bird belongs to the class of Aves and is a species from the order, family, genus Passeriformes, Muscicapidae, Brachypteryx respectively.

How many lesser shortwings are there in the world?

Though the exact population of this species of bird is unknown, they are found in abundance. These birds of the world are currently in no danger of becoming endangered.

Where does a lesser shortwing live?

The lesser shortwing (Brachypteryx leucophris) bird is a species native to Southeast Asia and can commonly be found living in the Himalayan region. This bird is locally common in Burma, Vietnam, Thailand, Java, Sumatra, Indonesia, and peninsular Malaysia.

What is a lesser shortwing's habitat?

The lesser shortwing (Brachypteryx leucophris) bird can commonly be found residing either in moist lowland forests or higher altitude montane forests in Southeast Asia, commonly near streams and rivers. In Vietnam, this bird has been observed in bamboo forests and has also been seen living in grassy scrublands during the winter.

Who do lesser shortwings live with?

The lesser shortwing (Brachypteryx leucophris) bird can be found flying around and perching in small flocks during the day. During the breeding period, these birds of the world can be observed in pairs, mating and living together in their dome-shaped nests.

How long does a lesser shortwing live?

The lesser shortwing robin bird has been observed to have a relatively short lifespan, only living for around 16-24 months.

How do they reproduce?

The lesser shortwing bird is oviparous in nature, meaning the female lays eggs out of which the young birds hatch. The breeding season for this species takes place from April to July in the Himalayas, March to June in Malaysia, and October to April in Java. The pairs build compact dome-shaped nests that have side entrances in order to protect their nests from predators and to live in during the breeding period. They are built from bamboo, moss, leaves, and roots and are camouflaged well either in trees or close to the ground. After mating, the female will lay around two to four eggs which hatch in due course.

What is their conservation status?

These birds of the world are abundantly available with a large distribution Their current status according to the IUCN Red List is of Least Concern.

What do lesser shortwings look like?

These petite birds of the Old World are named after their short tails and wings, giving them a small, round appearance. Both sexes of the lesser shortwing bird look quite similar in appearance, having olive-brown upperparts with white underparts and a light brown breast. They have a short white eyebrow which is not always visible, with black wings and feet. Females have paler bills and a paler eyebrow, which helps in identification from the males. Their eyes are large, round, and black in color.

How cute are they?

With their petite, round appearance and large black eyes, these birds of the Old World are very adorable in appearance.

How do they communicate?

The lesser shortwing bird communicates with a number of vocal cues, like other birds. The messages this bird intends to relay depends on the tone and intensity of its call.

How big is a lesser shortwing?

The lesser shortwing measures around 5.1 in (13 cm) from tip to tail. They are two to three times smaller than scissor-tailed flycatchers.

How fast can a lesser shortwing move?

Though the exact speed of this bird of the Old World is unknown, it is known to fly using rapid, short strokes of its small wings.

How much does a lesser shortwing weigh?

Lesser shortwings are relatively petite birds and weigh around 0.7 oz (20 g) on average.

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no specific names for either sex of this species. Males are simply called cocks and females are called hens.

What would you call a baby lesser shortwing?

Baby lesser shortwings are known as fledglings, chicks, or hatchlings.

What do they eat?

Being a type of flycatcher bird, flies are one of the most common items in this bird's diet. This bird is carnivorous in nature and has been observed to feed on various insects such as flies, snails, beetles, and slugs.

Are they dangerous?

No, these birds of the Old World are not dangerous towards humans at all. They are small, harmless birds and like to be left alone, flitting around the floret with birds of their own kind.

Would they make a good pet?

These petite birds are not commonly kept as pets and are better observed in the wild. As they range in their natural habitat of higher altitude montane forests, they might not be able to adjust to being kept as pets in a completely different environment. They are used to living in forests and are not usually bred as pets. It is best to observe them from afar and let them live in their wild habitat.

Did you know...

Depending on the location of the subspecies of the lesser shortwing, the breeding period differs. Breeding usually occurs in three seasons depending on subspecies from April to July, March to June, and from October to April.

Though these birds were formerly present in the thrush family Turdidae, they have now been placed in the flycatcher bird family Muscicapidae.

There are five subspecies of the lesser shortwing. There are the lesser shortwing (Brachypteryx leucophris wrayi), lesser shortwing (Brachypteryx leucophris langbianensis), lesser shortwing (Brachypteryx leucophris nipalensis), lesser shortwing (Brachypteryx leucophris leucophris), and the lesser shortwing (Brachypteryx leucophris carolinae).

The lesser shortwing Brachypteryx leucophris wrayi subspecies has slate bluish-black upperparts instead of the normal olive-brown upperparts of this species.

What does the lesser shortwing's call sound like?

The lesser shortwing song is thought to be tinkling and melodious in nature. It will start with one or two slow notes, before descending into a flurry of rapid, musical notes that last for quite a while.

How does the less shortwing compare with other shortwings?

There is not much known about the lesser shortwing in comparison with other related shortwing species. All shortwing birds belong to the genus Brachypteryx and are insectivorous flycatchers. They are small, colorful birds that are exclusively found in Southeast Asia.

Compared to other shortwing species, the lesser shortwing does not experience as much sexual dimorphism, with males and females looking quite similar to each other. They are also not as colorful, being a dull olive-brown in color compared to their related species.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our wood thrush interesting facts and vesper sparrow surprising facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable lesser shortwing coloring pages.