Adult Plumage Description:
The adult bird exhibits a brown back, transitioning to black on the crown and nape. A black stripe runs along the center of the crown. The area above the eyes and the sides of the head are white or pale buff. A broad brown stripe originates in front of the eyes, extending across the cheeks and towards the nape. The chin is white, and the tail has a slight buff hue. The upper back and shoulders are velvety black, with the feathers near the nape exhibiting a buffy tinge, while subsequent feathers are edged with buff. The lower back and flanks are dull black with numerous buff streaks. The buff tail feathers have brown and pale black bars.
The central tail feathers are black with two buff bands and tips. The primary and primary coverts have paler edges and tips. The tertiary feathers are entirely marked with buff-brown barring. The breast is marked with brown streaks. The remaining belly area is white with fine brown streaks. The undertail coverts are buff. The axillaries and underwing are dark brown with fine white barring. The eyes are dark brown, and the beak is horn-brown, slightly greenish in some areas, with a somewhat darker tip and a pale yellow base on the lower mandible. The legs are pale grey-green.
Measurements:
- Wing: 133 – 161 mm
- Tail: 63 – 74 mm
- Tarsus: 30 – 36 mm
- Bill: 61 – 67 mm
Distribution:
This species is distributed in the Himalayas and northern Myanmar. During the winter, it overwinters in India and Myanmar.
In Vietnam, this species has only been observed in Hoàng Liên Sơn (Sapa) and the northwestern region.