The Javan shortwing (''Brachypteryx montana'') (formerly the white-browed shortwing) is a species of bird that is placed in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the island of Java where it favours montane forests.

Taxonomy

The Javan shortwing was formally described in 1821 by the America naturalist Thomas Horsfield. He coined the present

binomial name In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

''Brachypteryx montana''. This species was formerly named the white-browed shortwing and included many

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

. It was split into five separate species based on the deep genetic difference between the populations coupled with the significant differences in plumage and vocalization. The new species are the Philippine shortwing (''Brachypteryx poliogyna''), the Bornean shortwing (''Brachypteryx erythrogyna''), the Sumatran shortwing (''Brachypteryx saturata'') and the

Flores shortwing The Flores shortwing (''Brachypteryx floris'') is a species of bird in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the island of Flores in the Lesser Sunda Islands where it favours montane forest. This species was formerly c ...

(''Brachypteryx floris''). The white-browed shortwing with its much reduced range was renamed the Javan shortwing. The species is now monotypic: no

are recognised.

Description

The Javan shortwing is a shy skulker, preferring to be on or near the ground, in the depths of dark vegetation, where it feeds on small insects, larvae, berries, seeds, sprouts and new buds of plants. The nest consists of moss and grass stems, placed in a dense shrub.

References

white-browed shortwing Birds of Nepal Birds of Bhutan Birds of Northeast India Birds of China Birds of Taiwan Birds of Southeast Asia white-browed shortwing Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Muscicapidae-stub