White-capped Water-redstart Phoenicurus / Chaimarrornis leucocephalus

White-capped Water-redstart
Phoenicurus leucocephalus
(aka Chaimarrornis leucocephalus)

Bhutan
April 2008

The White-capped Water-redstart is distributed from Afghanistan through the Himalayas to central and north-east China and northern Vietnam. See the distribution map at Birdlife International. It is found along rapid mountain streams mainly between 2,400 and 4,200 metres but can be lower and higher.

It has a white cap, rufous rump and tail with a black terminal band. Underparts are rufous apart from the black throat and breast. Photo 1 shows a typical pose with a partly fanned tail which is wagged and drooping wings. Sexes are similar visually.

There is a recording on xeno-canto .

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