Mountain fulvetta

The mountain fulvetta is a delightful small bird belonging to the Old World babbler family. Measuring approximately 14 to 15.5 cm in length, this species inhabits the lush, subtropical, or tropical montane forests of Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Interestingly, there is another bird called the black-browed fulvetta (scientifically known as Alcippe grotei), which is often mistaken for the mountain fulvetta. Despite their similarities, these two species exhibit distinct differences in appearance, vocalizations, and preferred altitudes. For instance, the black-browed fulvetta typically resides at lower elevations, below 400 meters, while the mountain fulvetta favors higher altitudes above 900 meters.

In terms of appearance, both birds display warm brown backs and tails, whitish underparts, gray faces, and slate-gray crowns edged with a black line. However, the black-browed fulvetta has brown flanks and a subtler white eyering compared to its mountain counterpart.

Their songs also differ. The mountain fulvetta sings a tune that sounds like "yi-yuii-uwee-uwee" while the black-browed fulvetta's song is more complex, described as "yu-chi-chiwi-chuwoo, yu-uwit-ii-uwoo."