Rusty-cheeked scimitar babbler
| Rusty-cheeked scimitar babbler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Subspecies P. e. erythrogenys from Ghatgarh, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Timaliidae |
| Genus: | Pomatorhinus |
| Species: | P. erythrogenys |
| Binomial name | |
| Pomatorhinus erythrogenys Vigors, 1832 | |
The rusty-cheeked scimitar babbler (Pomatorhinus erythrogenys) is a species of bird in the Timaliidae family native to South-East Asia.
Subspecies
Pomatorhinus erythrogenys has a number of recognized subspecies:[2]
- P. e. erythrogenys (north-west Himalayas)
- P. e. imberbis
- P. e. haringtoni
- P. e. gravivox
- P. e. macclellandi
- P. e. ferrugilatus (central Himalayas from Nepal to Bhutan)
- P. e. imberbis (east Myanmar)
- P. e. celatus (east Myanmar and north-east Thailand)
Description
The species is olive-brown above with rusty coluring on the sides of the face, head, thighs, and flanks. The belly is mostly white. Sexes are alike. The beak is long and decurved in a scimitar shape.[2]
Distribution and habitat
The rusty-cheeked scimitar babbler occurs in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Taiwan, and Thailand. It inhabits habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests at elevations up to 2600 m.[1]
Ecology
The bird feeds mostly on the forest floor and in low canopy, forming small groups. Food items include insects, grubs and seeds. Calls consist of a mellow, fluty whistle, a two-noted "CUE..PE...CUE..pe" call followed by single note replay by mate, guttural alarm calls and a liquid contact note. The species is generally quite noisy.[1][2]
References
- 1 2 3 BirdLife International (2012). "Pomatorhinus erythrogenys". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- 1 2 3 Baker, Edward Charles Stuart (1922). The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds Vol 1). Taylor and Francis. pp. 219–222.
Further reading
- 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.