NATURAL HISTORY · CATALOGUE RECORD
Rufous Sibia
Heterophasia capistrata (Vigors, 1831)
Source-backed taxonomic record
Accepted species in Catalogue of Life’s 11 September 2026 base release. This preserves the source classification and available supporting data; it is not a completed species monograph.
Open encyclopedia reference
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.
Wikipedia contributors, Rufous sibia; see linked history · CC BY-SA 4.0 . Plain-text lead excerpt, at most 180 words; no infobox or later sections Retrieved 2026-10-05T02:55:17.845889+00:00. This reference remains separate from the taxonomic record.
Identity & source status
- Scientific name
- Heterophasia capistrata (Vigors, 1831)
- Name authority
- (Vigors, 1831)
- Common name
- Rufous Sibia
- Rank
- species
- Accepted status
- accepted
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Leiothrichidae
- Genus
- Heterophasia
- Extinction status
- Recorded extant
Classification family tree
Nested taxonomic groups from the source. This is not a direct-ancestor chain, a dated evolutionary tree or a phylogenetic reconstruction.
- domainEukaryota (Chatton, 1925) Whittaker & Margulis, 1978
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumChordata
- subphylumVertebrata
- infraphylumGnathostomata
- parvphylumOsteichthyes
- megaclassTetrapoda
- classAves
- orderPasseriformes
- familyLeiothrichidae Swainson, 1832
- genusHeterophasia Blyth, 1842
- speciesHeterophasia capistrata (Vigors, 1831)
Close classified relatives
These entries share the source’s genus, Heterophasia. They are not necessarily the closest relatives established by molecular evidence.
| Species | Classification | Source status |
|---|---|---|
| Black-headed SibiaHeterophasia desgodinsi (Oustalet, 1877) | LeiothrichidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Grey SibiaHeterophasia gracilis (Horsfield, 1840) | LeiothrichidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Dark-backed SibiaHeterophasia melanoleuca (Blyth, 1859) | LeiothrichidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Long-tailed SibiaHeterophasia picaoides (Hodgson, 1839) | LeiothrichidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Beautiful SibiaHeterophasia pulchella (Godwin-Austen, 1874) | LeiothrichidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| White-eared SibiaHeterophasia auricularis (Swinhoe, 1864) | LeiothrichidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
Names & synonyms
Names explicitly linked to this accepted taxon in the source. Synonymy can change with revision.
| Recorded name | Source status |
|---|---|
| Cinclosoma capistratum Vigors, 1831 Vigors, 1831 | synonym |
Documented distribution
Source distribution statements, not a complete range map. A listed locality is not necessarily a place of origin.
Source literature & publication evidence
References attached to this source record, including nomenclatural citations where supplied. This is a selected bibliography; abbreviated citations remain in the source’s form.
- https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=560433 Source fields: Taxon.tsv dwc:namePublishedIn, Taxon.tsv dcterms:references
Origins, evidence & remaining research
Name authority and publication references document nomenclature where the source supplies it. They do not establish evolutionary origins or the earliest fossil occurrence.
Specimen-level evidence, morphology, ecological research, phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive bibliography and a located literary passage have not yet been compiled for this record. A suitable sourced image remains to be added.
Dataset citation & attribution
This exact taxon in ChecklistBank · Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11
Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11; dataset 316321; doi:10.48580/dgz5n. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Retrieved 5 October 2026.
Stable key: col:3LBVN. Classification follows source parent identifiers. English common names may vary by region.