Asian Stubtail (Urosphena squameiceps) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The Asian Stubtail is a tiny brown bird, about 4 in (10 cm) long, with a tail so short it looks almost tailless. It doesn't live in the US: it breeds in northeastern Asia and Japan and spends the winter in southern China and Southeast Asia.

Appearance

Appearance: Plain brown above and pale below, with a rusty crown, a long creamy eyebrow stripe, and a sharp dark line through the eye. The tail is extremely short and the legs are very pale. Males, females, and young look alike.
Voice: Breeding males give a very high, thin "see-see-see-see" that is easy to mistake for an insect. Both sexes make a short, clipped "chott" or "thwit" call.

Look-alikes

Pale-legged Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus tenellipes

The leaf warbler is a bit larger, about 4.7 in (12 cm), with a normal-length tail and a grayish-brown crown. The stubtail looks stub-tailed and has a rusty crown.

Why they get mixed upBoth are brown Asian forest birds with a pale eyebrow, a dark eye line, and pale legs.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: forest undergrowth
temperate forest
Range: Breeds in Korea, northeastern China (Manchuria), the Russian Far East, and Japan. Winters in southeastern China, Taiwan, Hainan, and northern Southeast Asia.
Seasonal presence: A migrant: present on its northern breeding grounds in summer only.
Preferred conditions: Stays low in dense undergrowth under a closed forest canopy, including thickets in evergreen broadleaf and lowland conifer forest.

Behavior

Diet: Insects and spiders picked from leaf litter and low vegetation.
Activity: Hops quietly on the forest floor and among tree roots. It usually stays hidden and, when disturbed, flies only a short distance.