Grey-crowned Crocias - BirdForum Opus

Alternative name: Mount Lang Bian Crocias

Photo by Tony.Saw
Ta Nung Valley, nr Da Lat, Vietnam, February 2011

Laniellus langbianis

Crocias langbianis

Identification

With 22 cm (8¾ in); a slender, long-tailed and brown-backed Babbler¹:

• Grey crown
• Whitish below
• Bold brown flank streaks
• Black mask
• Grey tail with white tips
• Brown mantle, brownish wings with dark streaks

Similar Species

Generally similar to Spotted Crocias, but ranges don't overlap.

Distribution

Endemic to a small area in S Vietnam.
Present in the Da Lat Plateau Endemic Bird Area, all recent records from three sites, one of them the Chu Yang Sin Nature Reserve, where it is reported as fairly common. In the other areas scarce and very local. Threatened by habitat loss and classified as endangered.¹

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^{1, 2}
Described in 1939 by Gyldenstolpe and not recorded in the wild again until 1994. The first pictures were taken as recently as 2003.

Habitat

Broadleaf evergreen forest and forest edge, also secondary growth and scrub. All recent records near water-courses, but has also been seen on ridgetops.

Behaviour

Highly elusive and easily overlooked.

Diet

Feeds on invertebrates (eg caterpillars). Forages in the canopy and in thick middle-storey vegetation.
Usually seen in pairs, sometimes small groups, maybe families. Often in bird waves together with Rufous-backed Sibia and Blue-winged Siva.

Breeding

Breeding season from April to May. No other data available.

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, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Grey-crowned Crocias. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Grey-crowned_Crocias

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