Giant Babax - BirdForum Opus

Photo © by Shi Jin
Lhasa, Tibet, China, October 2010

Alternative name: Giant Tibetian Babax

Pterorhinus waddelli

Garrulax waddelli

Identification

31 - 33.5 cm (12¼-13¼ in). The largest of the four Babaxes, like a large version of Chinese Babax:

• Streaked grey-brown plumage (much paler and greyer than Chinese Babax)
• Long, blackish-brown tail
• No obvious moustache
• Longer blackish bill

Variations

G. w. jomo is paler and larger than nominate.

Distribution

Asia: found in Tibet. May occur in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh (India) but no definite records.
Restricted-range species.

Taxonomy

Clements now places this species in the genus Ianthocincla, Gill and Donsker in Babax.

Subspecies

There are 3 subspecies^[1]:

• P. w. lumsdeni:

• Porth-eastern Tibet (on border with Qinghai).

• P. w. waddelli:

• South-eastern Tibet (Lhasa, Loti, Chushul, Dzong and Chaksam)

• P. w. jomo:

• South-central Tibet (Gyangtse region)

B. w. lumsdeni is sometimes merged with the nominate².

Habitat

Found in scrub at forest edges, bushy deciduous upper edges of coniferous forest and alpine vegetation with tall bushes and dry scrub. From 2800m to 4600m.

Behaviour

A shy and skulking bird, usually seen in groups of 3 - 8 birds. Sometimes in mixed-species flocks with Giant Laughingthrush.

Diet

Feeds on buckthorn fruit, seeds and small insects.

Breeding

Breeding season from March to July. The nest is a rough cup, woven with thick twigs and peeled bark. It's placed around 2m above the ground. Lays 2 - 4 eggs. Co-operative breeder.

Movements

Resident species.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. 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
3. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Giant Babax. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Giant_Babax

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