David’s Fulvetta Alcippe davidi was formerly considered conspecific with Grey-cheeked Fulvetta A. morrisonia, Huet’s Fulvetta A. hueti, and Yunnan Fulvetta A. fratercula. Resident from northern regions of Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam north to Gansu and Shaanxi. Both ssp. in China: davidi north to Gansu and Shaanxi, west to central Sichuan, south to Guangxi, and east to Jiangxi, and schaefferi in southeast Yunnan, southern Guizhou, and northern Guangxi. HABITAT & BEHAVIOR Common in understory and undergrowth of broadleaved evergreen forests, from lowlands to 3000 m (9,840 ft.). Usually in busy flocks, often in bird waves with other species, feeding on insects and berries. ID & COMPARISON Large-headed, brown-and-grey alcippe. Head grey with faint black crown-stripes, weak streaking on throat, and white eye-ring. Mantle and wing coverts grey-brown; remiges and tail brown; underparts greyish-buff. Huet’s Fulvetta has larger eye-ring; Yunnan Fulvetta has indistinct eye-ring and is browner below; Grey-cheeked Fulvetta has larger eye-ring and is more orange-buff below. BARE PARTS Bill black; feet and iris brown. VOICE Cheerful, clear song; busy, raspy calls. — Craig Brelsford
THE ALCIPPE FULVETTAS OF CHINA
shanghaibirding.com covers every species in the family Alcippeidae in China. Click any link below:
Brown-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe poioicephala
Nepal Fulvetta A. nipalensis
David’s Fulvetta A. davidi
Huet’s Fulvetta A. hueti
Yunnan Fulvetta A. fratercula
See also this Taiwan endemic:
Grey-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe morrisonia
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Daniel Bengtsson served as chief ornithological consultant for Craig Brelsford’s Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of China, from which this species description is drawn.
