Pale-footed Bush Warbler
Hemitesia pallidipes
淡脚树莺
Introduction
A warbler species in the family Cettiidae. Found in southern Asia across the Himalayan region from Dehradun through Nepal foothills to northeastern India, extending through Myanmar, Laos, northern Vietnam, and southern China. A single sighting recorded from Kandy, Sri Lanka in March 1993. Inhabits Themeda grasslands and woodland, ranging from foothills to 1,800 m elevation. Three subspecies recognized: H. p. pallidipes (Himalayas to west Yunnan and north Myanmar), H. p. laurentei (central Myanmar and southeast Yunnan to Vietnam), and H. p. osmastoni (Andaman Islands). Known for being extremely shy and a great skulker, remaining difficult to observe even during breeding season.
Distribution & Habitat
Occurs from Dehradun through Nepal foothills to northeastern India, Myanmar, Laos, northern Vietnam, and southern China. A single vagrant record from Kandy, Sri Lanka in March 1993. In Thailand, found in grassland and scrub from foothills to 1,800 m (5,900 ft). In China, inhabits woodland up to 1,525 m (5,003 ft). In Nepal, primarily resident in Chitwan. In India's Eastern Ghats, recorded at Sunkarametta, Araku Valley at 1,000 m (3,300 ft) altitude. Andaman Islands subspecies found at 730 m (2,400 ft). Reported from Simlipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha at 600-1,500 m (2,000-4,900 ft) in December 2012.
Behavior & Ecology
Extremely shy and a great skulker, remaining difficult to observe even during breeding season. Breeds from May to July. Found alone or in pairs in low bushes and grass clumps. Ground-dwelling species that flies less than a meter above ground, moving through grass reeds while keeping low and mostly out of sight. Feeds on the lower half of grass reeds. Has a loud song and remains more easily heard than seen. Mostly silent during winter, but call and song become prominent during spring. Explosive song serves as the best indicator of presence.
Conservation
Classified as Least Concern globally, but population decline documented in Nepal due to habitat loss. Threatened by habitat degradation and population decline in Nepal.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cettiidae
- Genus
- Hemitesia
- eBird Code
- pfbwar1
Subspecies (3)
-
Hemitesia pallidipes laurentei
breeds southern China; winters to northwestern Thailand, northern Laos, and northern Vietnam
-
Hemitesia pallidipes osmastoni
Andaman Islands
-
Hemitesia pallidipes pallidipes
Himalayan foothills to northern Myanmar
Data Sources
CBR Notes: 由Urosphena属移入Hemitesia属（Alström et al. 2011）
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.