Grey-bellied Wren-Babbler - BirdForum Opus

Spelaeornis reptatus

Identification

10cm (4 in); A small dark brown Wren-Babbler.

• Prominent white shaft-streaks on flanks
• Longer tailed than Tawny-breasted Wren-Babbler
• Darker above than Tawny-breasted Wren-Babbler, browner below with fine black flecks below throat
• Males with broad white throat through centre of belly
• Female more rufous-chestnut than male

Distribution

Found from Arunachal Pradesh (northeast India) over northern and eastern Burma to western Thailand and Yunnan (South China).
Locally common.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.
It was formerly considered conspecific with Pale-throated Wren-Babbler, Chin Hills Wren-Babbler and Naga Wren-Babbler.

Habitat

Montane broadleaf forest with thick undergrowth.¹

Behaviour

Diet

Feeds on ants, small beetles and various other insects.
Very active species, usually foraging close to the ground, but not as exclusively ground-dwelling like the Pnoepyga Wren-Babblers.

Breeding

Breeds from April to June, building an oval doom. Lays 3 whitish eggs.
Resident.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, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
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. (2025) Grey-bellied Wren-Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 March 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Grey-bellied_Wren-Babbler

External Links

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