Alternative names: White-throated Babbler; Rufous-bellied Babbler
- Dumetia hyperythra
Identification
13cm. A striking small babbler.
- Rufescent forehead and front of crown
- Grey-brown upperparts
- Buffy-rufous sides of head and underparts
- Pale eye
- Pale stubby bill
- Longish tail
- Albogularis and philipsi with white throat and whitish patch on belly
Sexes similar. Juveniles duller and paler.
Distribution
Found in India, Sri Lanka and southwest Nepal.
Common only in parts of its range. Probably exctinct in Bangladesh.
Taxonomy
Three subspecies recognized:
- D. h. hyperythra in south Nepal and north, central and east India
- D. h. albogularis in west and south India
- D. h. philipsi on Sri Lanka
Habitat
Open wooded country and scrub, bamboo clumps, thorn-scrub, wasteland near forest, decidous and mixed-decidous scrub-jungle. From the lowlands up to 900m, locally up to 1800m in south India.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects and nectar.
Forages like Fulvettas, moving through grass and feeding among dead leaves. Usually in groups of 5 to 12 birds.
Breeding season January to October, multi-brooded. It builds its nest in a bush, concealed in dense masses of foliage and 3-4 eggs are laid. Brood parasitism by Banded Bay Cuckoo reported.
Resident species.
References
- Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
- 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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Tawny-bellied Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Tawny-bellied_Babbler
