Heterophasia capistrata
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
In 3 days <5% in a week ~10%
The rufous sibia (Heterophasia capistrata) is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It feeds on berries and insects. It is found in the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent, ranging across India, Nepal and Bhutan. Its natural habitat is the temperate forests of the Lower to Middle Himalayas. The species has an unmistakable appearance with its rufous-dominated colouration and black head, and is often seen with its crest raised. It is a vigorous, melodious singer.
Media related to Category:Heterophasia capistrata at Wikimedia Commons Collar, N. J. & Robson C. 2007. Family Timaliidae (Babblers) pp. 70 – 291 in; del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Christie, D.A. eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 12. Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Langtang National Park | 🇳🇵 Nepal | |
| 2 | Royal Manas National Park | 🇧🇹 Bhutan | |
| 3 | Manas National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 4 | Jim Corbett National Park | 🇮🇳 India |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Rufous Sibia sighting in Manas National Park on a given day, based on 13 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 315th most-seen of the 377 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, and over a week to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Rufous Sibia in Manas National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February to December, the lowest months. That is one of Manas National Park's driest months, with about 15 mm of rain against 1070 mm in June.
Between 4 and 7 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Rufous Sibia sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
3rd of 4
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Rufous Sibia sightings, Manas National Park ranks 3rd at under 5%. The best odds are in Langtang National Park (Nepal, about 50%) and Royal Manas National Park (Bhutan, about 30%).
Same family: Leiothrichidae
The closest relatives of the Rufous Sibia that you can see in Manas National Park (family Leiothrichidae, Laughingthrushes and Allies) are Jungle Babbler (about 30%), Rufous-necked Laughingthrush (about 30%) and Striated Babbler (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Rufous Sibia is recorded against all the birds logged in Manas National Park (13 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
