The Himalayan cutia “Cutia nipalensis” is a bird species in the family Leiothrichidae.
Family: The Himalayan cutia, “Cutia nipalensis,” is a bird species in Leiothrichidae.
Distribution: The amazing species inhabit the Himalayan region, found in north India along the Himalayas: Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, India, Burma, adjacent south China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and peninsular Malaysia.
Witnessing this rare gem is a rally-like dream come true, showing off the various colors and patterns it possesses. This is one of the birds listed in the book, 100 Birds to See Before You Die!
Elevation: The Himalayan cutia can be found in the foothills up to 1,500 meters or thereabouts, but it hardly ever reaches above 2,500 meters.
Diet: The Himalayan Cutia diet consists of insects, larvae, pupae, gastropods, insect eggs, seeds and berries, and pine cones.
Breeding: The species’ breeding season starts from April to June.
Nest: The bird-like nest is an open cup made of pine needles and moss, placed at the base of a pine branch against the trunk, 3 to 3.5 meters above the ground, sometimes up to 20 meters in a broadleaf tree.
Scientific Name: The bird’s scientific name means “the khutya from Nepal.”. However, Cutia is derived from the Nepali name for these birds, and nipalensis is Latin for “from Nepal.” The Nepalese name is khatya or khutya for the Nepal Cutia C. nipalensis.” Grimmett et al. (2003) give the Nepali name Cutia.
Habitat: This beautiful bird’s natural habitat is tropical to subtropical humid montane forests. It is not a bird of the high mountains, however, but rather inhabits broadleaf forests, e.g., oaks (Quercus).
Status: The Himalayan cutia is not considered threatened by the IUCN, retaining its pre-split status as a species of least concern; in Bhutan, for example, it is a fairly frequently seen resident.
Synonyms: Cutia nipalensis nipalensis, Brian Houghton Hodgson (1837)
These amazing species inhabit the Himalayan region, found in north India along with the Himalayas: Nepal, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Burma, adjacent south China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and peninsular Malaysia.The Himalayan Cutia diet consists of insects, larvae, pupae, gastropods, insect eggs, seeds and berries, and pine cones.The species’ breeding season starts from April to June.A bird-like nest is an open cup made of pine needles and moss, placed at base of a pine branch against the trunk, 3 to 3.5m above the ground, sometimes up to 20m in a broadleaf tree.The bird scientific name means “the khutya from Nepal.”. However, Cutia is derived from the Nepali name for these birds, and nipalensis is Latin for “from Nepal.”.This beautiful bird’s natural habitat is tropical to subtropical humid montane forests.It is not a bird of the high mountains, however, but rather inhabits broadleaf forests, e.g., oaksThe Himalayan cutia is not considered threatened by the IUCN, retaining its pre-split status as a Species of Least concern.Witnessing this rare gem is a rally-like dream come true, showing off the various colors and patterns it possesses.
