(Imp sizes. Some extra info. Picture of juvenile. Basic tidy-up. References updated) |
m (Njlarsen moved page Limestone Wren-Babbler to Variable Limestone Babbler: consensus change in Clements and IOC - first part of a three way split) |
(No difference)
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Revision as of 18:58, 18 September 2022
Alternative name: Greyish Limestone-babbler
- Turdinus crispifrons
Napothera crispifrons
Identification
18–20·5 cm (7-8 in). A rather long-billed and long-tailed medium-sized babbler:
- Greyish-tinged dark brown crown to back with black scaling
- Greyish dark brown fluffy rump
- Dark brown upperwing and tail
- Greyish face with darker ear-coverts
- Whitish chin to belly with broad grey-brown streaks especially on breast and belly
- Grey-brown flanks, thighs and vent
Sexes similar. Juveniles undescribed.
Variations
- annamensis with white throat and upper breast with broad dark streaks and grey lower breast and belly
- calcicola like annamensis but with rufous underparts (not greyish)
- Locally in Burma a white-faced and a white-throated morph occurs
Distribution
Found in south China (Yunnan), north Laos, north Vietnam, southeast Burma and Thailand.
Locally common in its range.
Taxonomy
Also placed in its own genus Gypsophila or included in Napothera.
Subspecies
Three subspecies recognized[1]:
- T. c. annamensis in south China (Yunnan), north Laos and north Vietnam
- T. c. crispifrons in southeast Burma and northwest and west Thailand
- T. c. calcicola in northeast Thailand
Habitat
Evergreen and mixed decidous forest and scrub in limestone hill country (with boulders and steep crags). Up to 2135m in Burma, below 915m in China and Thailand, 300 - 400m in Vietnam.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on insects and seeds.
Usually seen in pairs or small groups of up to 6 birds. Moves around in rocks and tangled vegetation. Can be secretive.
Breeding
Breeding season from August to September. The nest is a roofed cup or dome made of dried twigs, roots and other material. It's placed in a rock crevice. Lays 2 - 5 eggs.
Movements
Resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://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
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved August 2017)
- Birdforum thread with ID information on juvenile birds, and similar species
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Variable Limestone Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Variable_Limestone_Babbler
