Bicol Ground Warbler

Alternative names: Sorsogon Wren-Babbler; Grey-banded Babbler

Robsonius sorsogonensis

Identification

20 - 22cm. A long-billed and long-legged Babbler:

• Greyish-olive crown with faint dark scales
• Upperparts olive, becoming uniform brown on lower back
• Bold white spots on wing
• White lores and narrow supercilium above eye, cheek and ear-coverts grey
• White submoustachial stripe, narrow blackish malar line
• White unspotted throat
• Middle to lower breast grey, belly white, vent dark brown

Sexes are similar.

Distribution

Endemic to Luzon and Catnaduanes, Philippines.
Uncommon in its range, but difficult to assess because of secretive habits.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.
It was formerly considered conspecific with Cordillera Ground Warbler and placed in Napothera.

Habitat

Moist lowland forests and secondary growth. Up to 1000m.

Behaviour

Feeds on invertebrates.
Forages on the floor, walking slowly. Shy and secretive, difficult to see.
Breeding season February to August. The nest is a large ball with a front entrance, some 0.6m above the ground in rattan. Lays 2 eggs.
Resident species.

References

1. 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/
2. Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2014. IOC World Bird Names (version 4.3). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
3. 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

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Bicol Ground Warbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 15 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Bicol_Ground_Warbler

External Links

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