Alternative name: Hoary Barwing
- Actinodura nipalensis
Identification
21cm (8¼ in). A medium-sized babbler:
- Strikingly long crown feathers creating dark floppy crest with pale shaft-streaks
- Black-and-tan barring on wings and tail
- Pale grey throat and upper breast
- Broad blackish moustache
- Diffuse dark streaks on mantle and scapulars
Sexes similar.
Juveniles have a browner crest and cheek and a weaker moustache
Similar species
Streak-throated Barwing is similar, but overlapping subspecies daflaensis has a very weak moustache and grey-brown streaks on a whitish breast and upper belly.
Distribution
Found from Nepal east along the Himalayas to Bhutan, northeast India and adjacent Tibet.
Restricted-range species but common in parts of its range.
Taxonomy
Has been considered conspecific with Streak-throated Barwing or may form a superspecies with it.
Hybrids obviously occur.
Sometimes placed in the genus Ixops.
This is a monotypic species[1].
Subspecies vinctura is no longer considered valid.
Habitat
Found in oak forest, mixed oak, conifer and rhododendron forest, usually with plenty of undergrowth. Occurs at 1830 - 3500m, in winter sometimes lower.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on beetles, caterpillars and other insects. Takes also berries, flowers and seeds.
Outside the breeding season usually seen in groups of 3 - 10 birds, joins sometimes bird waves. Forages in upper branches of middle-sized trees.
Breeding
Breeding season from April to June. Only one nest is described which was a small cup made of fine grasses. Lays 2 eggs.
Movements
Resident species, in harsh winters some altitudinal movement possible.
References
- 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/
- 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
- Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Hoary-throated Barwing. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Hoary-throated_Barwing