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Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler - BirdForum Opus

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Photo by Steve G
Sinharaja & Hunas Falls, Sri Lanka
Pomatorhinus melanurus

Identification

19 -22cm A smallish Scimitar-Babbler

  • Dark eye
  • Long yellow bill
  • Prominent white supercilium
  • Black face, white throat and breast
  • Rufescent-brown upperparts and flanks
  • Grey to blackish side of neck, flanks and vent

Sexes similar.

Confusion species

White-browed Scimitar-Babbler has a yellow eye and no blackish flanks.

Distribution

Endemic to Sri Lanka.
Locally common.

Taxonomy

Two subspecies recognized:

  • P. h. melanurus in the western part of southcentral Sri Lanka
  • P. h. holdsworthi in the eastern part of southcentral Sri Lanka (not accepted by all authorities)

Was formerly considered conspecific with Indian Scimitar Babbler.

Habitat

Decidous to evergreen forest, cardamon sholas, bamboo, tick cover. Locally up to 2400m.

Behaviour

Feeds on insects, grubs and spiders. Takes also flower nectar and berries.
Seen in pairs during breeding season, in small groups the rest of the year. Often together with other species. Forages on the ground or in dense undergrowth.
Breeding season from December to February in Sri Lanka. The nest is a loose, large domr with an entrance on the upper side. It's placed in a bush or on the ground, concealed in dense masses of foliage. Lays 2 to 5 eggs.
Resident species.

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. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
  3. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view

Recommended Citation

External Links

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