Alternative name: Sorsogon Wren-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
Two subspecies recognized which are sometimes split into two species:
- Grey-banded Babbler, Robsonius sorsogonensis (or Sorsogon Wren-Babbler)
- R. s. mesoluzonicus in central Luzon
- R. s. sorsogonensis in south Luzon and Catanduanes
Both split species are placed in their own genus Robsonius.
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 (sorsogonensis). The nest is a large ball with a front entrance, some 0.6m above the ground in rattan. Lays 2 eggs.
Resident species.
References
- 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
- 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) Bicol Ground Warbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 10 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Bicol_Ground_Warbler
