Rusty-bellied Shortwing    Barchypteryx hyperythra

Etymology: 

• Brachypteryx : Greek word brakhus short; pterux

• Hyperythra : Greek word hupo- beneath; eruthros- red

Distribution : Resident in east Himalayas in extreme North West Bengal, Sikkim ,Assam and Arunachal Pradesh 

Description: It has size of  12–13 cm.

The male is dark slaty-blue above and on face, with black lores, short white brow, short wings and tail. It has rich orange-chestnut throat to vent; bill is all black when breeding, otherwise pale-based. The legs are long & pink.

Female is slaty-brown above, with dark brown face to malar; throat is pale rufous, browner on side of breast and flanks, center of belly is paler; bill is extensively pale at base.

Habitat: It breeds in dense  bamboo, undergrowth and thickets inside broadleaf evergreen forest, steep, damp and densely vegetated gulleys in secondary scrub. It is found at 1800–3000 m. In winters it is found in dense reeds, bamboo, grass jungle, thick secondary scrub, forest undergrowth and overgrown gulleys, at lower elevation of 450–2950 m.

Food habits:  It eats Beetles found in stomachs. Forages in low vegetation and on ground.

Breeding habits: They breed in Apr–Jun