Rusty-throated Wren-babbler

[CornishExile]

Story of rediscovery and a photo (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-wren27feb27,1,5757155.story)

Failing that link (a bit temperamental, depending on whether the LA Times decide to let you see it or not), here's another (http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=65528).

[cuckooroller]

I found the same photo on the Orlando Sentinel site.

[Steve Lister]

Apparently it was found to be quite common when they used playback in the right kind of places.

Steve

[Tim Allwood]

similar to the Rusty-bellied Shortwing I think. Found to be quite 'common' after 1996. Even I managed to see one last year but it did take two hours. Also managed Rufous-throated Wren-babbler last year which looks very similar to the bird in this thread which i would dearly love to see... maybe 2006...hopefully it too will prove to be quite numerous, just overlooked in the past due to its skulky nature

Tim

[helenol]

Here's what Birdlife are saying: http://www.birdlife.org/news (http://www.birdlife.org/news)

On 18 November 2004 Ben King and Julian P. Donahue rediscovered the Rusty-throated Wren-Babbler Spelaeornis badeigularis in India's Arunachal Pradesh region. The species had not previously seen for more than fifty years.

The wren-babbler was refound at an elevation of 6,000 feet (1,800 m) on the Roing-Hunli road, in the Dibang River drainage of the Mishmi Hills, eastern Himalaya. The bird initially responded to a tape-recording of its nearest relative, the Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler Spelaeornis caudatus – its responses were recorded and played back, with excellent results.

Rusty-throated Wren-Babbler Spelaeornis badeigularis was described by Ripley in 1948, based upon a unique female specimen mist-netted by the Ripley party on 5 January 1947 at an elevation of 5,100 feet (1,545 m) at Dreyi, on the Lohit River drainage of the Mishmi Hills. There had been no additional records or field observations of the species for almost 58 years until now.
The team subsequently learned that the species is easily located (but excruciatingly difficult to observe) on the roadside between Roing and Hunli, on both the north and south sides of Mayodia Pass (elev. 2,655 m), in broadleaf evergreen forest at elevations of 5,100–7,700 feet (1,545–2,330 m); one day they elicited responses from seven different birds along just one kilometer of road.

The species is currently classified by BirdLife as Vulnerable. By Julian P. Donahue

[Tim Allwood]

excruciatingly difficult to observe

sounds common in the right places though so should be gettable with a bit of skill and extreme patience and a dollop of fortune

Arunachal Pradesh must be holding back a few more gems yet...

Tim

[Sumit]

Hi,
More information from Julian Donahue with new (and better) images at:
http://www.kolkatabirds.com/wrenbabbler.htm
One more previously unpublished pic at:
http://www.kolkatabirds.com/rustythroatedwbabbler2.jpg
Cheers!
Sumit

[Tim Allwood]

thanks a lot Sumit

i like the last photo in particular - typical views i guess!!!

Tim