Flame-templed Babbler - BirdForum Opus

Alternative names: Orange-templed Babbler; Rough-templed Babbler; Beautiful Roughtemple; Rusty-crowned Babbler

Photo © by Rob Hutchinson
Mount Kanlaon, Negros, Philippines, January 2007

Dasycrotapha speciosa

Identification

A small (13cm) but unmistakable Babbler¹:

• Complex head pattern with yellow, orange, black and white
• Yellow orbital skin around eye
• Olive-grey upperparts with whitish shaft streaks
• Yellow to olive-yellow underparts

Sexes are similar, juveniles similar to adults.

Distribution

Endemic to the Philippines where only found on Negros and Panay.¹
A restricted-range species which is severly threatened by deforestation. The population is obviously declining and the species disappearing from many areas. Present in North Negros Forest Reserve and Mount Canlaon National Park.¹

Taxonomy

Monotypic^{1, 2}. However, the two populations on the two islands may differ sufficiently to warrant recognition of two subspecies in future.
Some authorities place this species in the genus Stachyris.

Habitat

Found in dense undergrowth and understory in primary forest. Also in secondary and degraded forest and forest edge. Usually at 75m - 1180m.¹

Behaviour

Usually seen near the ground, foraging slowly and methodically among leaves. Seen singly or in small groups of three or sometimes more birds. Often associating with other birds like Fantails, Tailorbirds or Leaf-warblers.

Diet

Feeds on insects.

Breeding

Not much information about breeding. Juvenile birds known from August, birds in breeding condition from different months.

Movements

Resident species.¹

References

1. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
2. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Flame-templed Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 8 November 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Flame-templed_Babbler

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