The Himalayan cutia “Cutia
nipalensis” is a bird species in the family Leiothrichidae. This amazing species
inhabits the Himalayan region, found from north India along 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 start
from April to June. The bird like to make 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, the Cutia is derived
from the Nepali name for these birds, and nipalensis is Latin for "from
Nepal".
This beautiful bird natural habitat is tropical
to subtropical humid montane forests. It is not a bird of the high mountains
however, rather inhabiting broadleaf forest – e.g. of oaks 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. Witnessing this rare gem is a really like dream come true showing off
various colors and pattern possess. This is one of the birds that have been
listed in the book - 100 Birds to see before you die! Source: CP
