At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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.
The lesser shortwing (Brachypteryx leucophris) is a type of Old World bird that can be found in Asia.
The lesser shortwing bird belongs to the class of Aves and is a species from the order, family, genus Passeriformes, Muscicapidae, Brachypteryx respectively.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The lesser shortwing robin bird has been observed to have a relatively short lifespan, only living for around 16-24 months.
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.
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.
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.
With their petite, round appearance and large black eyes, these birds of the Old World are very adorable in appearance.
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.
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.
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.
Lesser shortwings are relatively petite birds and weigh around 0.7 oz (20 g) on average.
There are no specific names for either sex of this species. Males are simply called cocks and females are called hens.
Baby lesser shortwings are known as fledglings, chicks, or hatchlings.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.