Adult Plumage:
The forehead, crown, and nape are black, with white-edged feathers creating a streaked appearance. The area around the eyes is white. The ears are brown. There is white on the malar region (cheek area). The eyebrow is black. The upperparts (back) are yellowish-brown with a rufous (reddish-brown) tinge. The chin and throat are pale grayish-black. The underparts (belly) are yellowish-brown, with the flanks, abdomen, and undertail coverts having a yellowish-green hue.
The face is yellow or pink. The upper mandible (beak) is dark brown or pale black. The lower mandible is blue-gray. The legs are pale brown, pale green, or pale yellow. Measurements: wing length: 57-65 mm; tail length: 55 mm; tarsus length: 21 mm; bill length: 15 mm.
Biology and Ecology:
This bird species inhabits brush and forages in flocks during early morning hours, typically between 5:00 and 6:00 AM, when it is still dark in the forest. They are rarely observed foraging in open areas.
Distribution:
This species is distributed in Myanmar, Thailand, Southwestern China (Yunnan), Indochina, and Malaysia. In Vietnam, specimens have been collected in Lai Châu, Lào Cai, Bắc Thái, Thanh Hóa, and Lâm Đồng provinces.