From Opus

The Cutia is one of the most colourful species of this family.
Photo: Dave B

The Jungle Babbler is a representive of the genus Turdoides.
Photo: Rakesh

A Melodious Babbler from Palawan.
Photo: James Eaton

Family: Timaliidae. Old World babblers

[edit] Description

The Old World babblers are a large, highly variable family of Old World passerine birds. Typical features of this family are:¹

• Similar sexes
• Short, rounded wings
• Juveniles generally lacking the spotting characteristic of thrushes and chats
• Tendency to longer, rounded tail
• Generally stout bill and legs
• Often soft, fluffy plumage.

Babblers are found in Africa and Asia, with the highest diversity in South-east Asia and the Himalayas.

[edit] Taxonomy

Timaliidae is a family in the Order Passeriformes.

This family has long been said to be a dustbin for taxonomists, where they would place any bird with uncertain affinities. However, recent work, particulary by A. Cibois, has revealed more information about this complex family. A major revision is expected to take place in the next few years. In addition to the Babblers, the Sylvia Warblers, the Parrotbills, the White-eyes and some other species (like the American Wrentit which was recently moved here) should probably be placed in the Timaliidae. In the other hand, most of the Babblers from Madagascar seem not to belong to this family (like White-throated Oxylabes and Yellow-browed Oxylabes or the Jeries); nor do the Rockjumpers from South Africa, which some authorities have elevated to their own family. The White-bellied Yuhina should probably also be placed in other families.¹

Genera with uncertain affinities are:

• Modulatrix (also placed in Pycnonotidae or Turdidae)
• Arcanator (also placed in Pycnonotidae, Turdidae or Promeropidae)
• Chaetops (most possibly belonging to its own family Chaetopidae)
• Kakamega (probably belonging to the Promeropidae or the Turdidae)
• Neomixis (probably belonging to the Cisticolidae or Sylviidae)
• Hartertula (probably belonging to the Cisticolidae or Sylviidae)
• Pteruthius (probably belonging to the Vireonidae)
• Lioptilus (probably belonging to the Sylviidae, also placed in Pycnonotidae)
• Horizorhinus (also placed in Turdidae, Sylviidae or Muscicapidae)
• Parophasma (probably belonging to the Sylviidae)
• Oxylabes (probably belonging to the Sylviidae)
• Crossleyia (probably belonging to the Sylviidae, also placed in Pycnonotidae)
• Mystacornis (probably belonging to the Vangidae)

However, as Opus is not a taxonomic authority we still follow the traditional systematic.²

Family Timaliidae view • edit
	Genus Malia view • edit M. grata Malia
	Genus Garrulax view • edit G. cinereifrons Ashy-headed Laughingthrush G. palliatus Sunda Laughingthrush G. rufifrons Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush G. perspicillatus Masked Laughingthrush G. albogularis White-throated Laughingthrush G. leucolophus White-crested Laughingthrush G. monileger Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush G. pectoralis Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush G. lugubris Black Laughingthrush G. striatus Striated Laughingthrush G. streptipans White-necked Laughingthrush G. milleti Black-hooded Laughingthrush G. maesi Grey Laughingthrush G. ruficollis Rufous-necked Laughingthrush G. nuchalis Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush G. chinensis Black-throated Laughingthrush G. vassali White-cheeked Laughingthrush G. galbanus Yellow-throated Laughingthrush G. delesserti Wynaad Laughingthrush G. gularis Rufous-vented Laughingthrush G. davidi Plain Laughingthrush G. sukatschewi Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush G. cineraceus Moustached Laughingthrush G. rufogularis Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush G. konkakinhensis Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush G. ocellatus Spotted Laughingthrush G. lunulatus Barred Laughingthrush G. bieti White-speckled Laughingthrush G. maximus Giant Laughingthrush G. caerulatus Grey-sided Laughingthrush G. poecilorhynchus Rusty Laughingthrush G. mitratus Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush G. merulinus Spot-breasted Laughingthrush G. canorus Hwamei G. sannio White-browed Laughingthrush G. cachinnans Rufous-breasted Laughingthrush G. jerdoni Grey-breasted Laughingthrush G. lineatus Streaked Laughingthrush G. virgatus Striped Laughingthrush G. subunicolor Scaly Laughingthrush G. austeni Brown-capped Laughingthrush G. squamatus Blue-winged Laughingthrush G. elliotii Elliot's Laughingthrush G. variegatus Variegated Laughingthrush G. henrici Brown-cheeked Laughingthrush G. affinis Black-faced Laughingthrush G. morrisonianus White-whiskered Laughingthrush G. erythrocephalus Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush G. ngoclinhensis Golden-winged Laughingthrush G. yersini Collared Laughingthrush G. formosus Red-winged Laughingthrush G. milnei Red-tailed Laughingthrush
	Genus Liocichla view • edit L. omeiensis Emei Shan Liocichla L. bugunorum Bugun Liocichla L. steerii Steere's Liocichla L. phoenicea Red-faced Liocichla
	Genus Modulatrix view • edit M. stictigula Spot-throat
	Genus Arcanator view • edit A. orostruthus Dapple-throat
	Genus Trichastoma view • edit T. rostratum White-chested Babbler T. celebense Sulawesi Babbler T. bicolor Ferruginous Babbler T. woodi Bagobo Babbler
	Genus Malacocincla view • edit M. abbotti Abbott's Babbler M. sepiaria Horsfield's Babbler M. perspicillata Black-browed Babbler M. malaccensis Short-tailed Babbler M. cinereiceps Ashy-headed Babbler
	Genus Pellorneum view • edit P. fuscocapillus Brown-capped Babbler P. palustre Marsh Babbler P. tickelli Buff-breasted Babbler P. pyrrogenys Temminck's Babbler P. albiventre Spot-throated Babbler P. ruficeps Puff-throated Babbler P. capistratum Black-capped Babbler
	Genus Malacopteron view • edit M. palawanense Melodious Babbler M. magnirostre Moustached Babbler M. affine Sooty-capped Babbler M. cinereum Scaly-crowned Babbler M. magnum Rufous-crowned Babbler M. albogulare Grey-breasted Babbler
	Genus Chaetops view • edit C. pycnopygius Damara Rock-jumper C. frenatus Rufous Rock-jumper C. aurantius Orange-breasted Rock-jumper
	Genus Illadopsis view • edit I. cleaveri Blackcap Illadopsis I. albipectus Scaly-breasted Illadopsis I. rufescens Rufous-winged Illadopsis I. puveli Puvel's Illadopsis I. rufipennis Pale-breasted Illadopsis I. fulvescens Brown Illadopsis I. pyrrhoptera Mountain Illadopsis
	Genus Kakamega view • edit K. poliothorax Grey-chested Illadopsis
	Genus Pseudoalcippe view • edit P. abyssinica African Hill Babbler
	Genus Ptyrticus view • edit P. turdinus Thrush Babbler
	Genus Pomatorhinus view • edit P. hypoleucos Large Scimitar-Babbler P. erythrocnemis Spot-breasted Scimitar-Babbler P. erythrogenys Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler P. horsfieldii Indian Scimitar-Babbler P. schisticeps White-browed Scimitar-Babbler P. montanus Chestnut-backed Scimitar-Babbler P. ruficollis Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler P. ochraceiceps Red-billed Scimitar-Babbler P. ferruginosus Coral-billed Scimitar-Babbler
	Genus Xiphirhynchus view • edit X. superciliaris Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler
	Genus Jabouilleia view • edit J. danjoui Short-tailed Scimitar-Babbler
	Genus Rimator view • edit R. malacoptilus Long-billed Wren-Babbler
	Genus Ptilocichla view • edit P. leucogrammica Bornean Wren-Babbler P. mindanensis Striated Wren-Babbler P. falcata Falcated Wren-Babbler
	Genus Kenopia view • edit K. striata Striped Wren-Babbler
	Genus Napothera view • edit N. macrodactyla Large Wren-Babbler N. rufipectus Rusty-breasted Wren-Babbler N. atrigularis Black-throated Wren-Babbler N. marmorata Marbled Wren-Babbler N. crispifrons Limestone Wren-Babbler N. brevicaudata Streaked Wren-Babbler N. crassa Mountain Wren-Babbler N. rabori Rabor's Wren-Babbler N. epilepidota Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler
	Genus Pnoepyga view • edit P. albiventer Scaly-breasted Wren-Babbler P. immaculata Nepal Wren-Babbler P. pusilla Pygmy Wren-Babbler
	Genus Spelaeornis view • edit S. caudatus Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler S. badeigularis Rusty-throated Wren-Babbler S. troglodytoides Bar-winged Wren-Babbler S. formosus Spotted Wren-Babbler S. chocolatinus Long-tailed Wren-Babbler S. longicaudatus Tawny-breasted Wren-Babbler
	Genus Sphenocichla view • edit S. humei Wedge-billed Wren-Babbler
	Genus Neomixis view • edit N. tenella Common Jery N. viridis Green Jery N. striatigula Stripe-throated Jery
	Genus Hartertula view • edit H. flavoviridis Wedge-tailed Jery
	Genus Stachyris view • edit S. rodolphei Deignan's Babbler S. ambigua Buff-chested Babbler S. rufifrons Rufous-fronted Babbler S. ruficeps Rufous-capped Babbler S. pyrrhops Black-chinned Babbler S. chrysaea Golden Babbler S. plateni Pygmy Babbler S. dennistouni Golden-crowned Babbler S. nigrocapitata Black-crowned Babbler S. capitalis Rusty-crowned Babbler S. speciosa Flame-templed Babbler S. whiteheadi Chestnut-faced Babbler S. striata Luzon Striped-Babbler S. latistriata Panay Striped-Babbler S. nigrorum Negros Striped-Babbler S. hypogrammica Palawan Striped-Babbler S. grammiceps White-breasted Babbler S. herberti Sooty Babbler S. nonggangensis Nonggang Babbler S. nigriceps Grey-throated Babbler S. poliocephala Grey-headed Babbler S. oglei Snowy-throated Babbler S. striolata Spot-necked Babbler S. leucotis White-necked Babbler S. nigricollis Black-throated Babbler S. thoracica White-bibbed Babbler S. maculata Chestnut-rumped Babbler S. erythroptera Chestnut-winged Babbler S. melanothorax Crescent-chested Babbler
	Genus Dumetia view • edit D. hyperythra Tawny-bellied Babbler
	Genus Rhopocichla view • edit R. atriceps Dark-fronted Babbler
	Genus Macronous view • edit M. gularis Striped Tit-Babbler M. flavicollis Grey-cheeked Tit-Babbler M. kelleyi Grey-faced Tit-Babbler M. striaticeps Brown Tit-Babbler M. ptilosus Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler
	Genus Micromacronus view • edit M. leytensis Miniature Tit-Babbler
	Genus Timalia view • edit T. pileata Chestnut-capped Babbler
	Genus Chrysomma view • edit C. sinense Yellow-eyed Babbler C. altirostre Jerdon's Babbler C. poecilotis Rufous-tailed Babbler
	Genus Chamaea view • edit C. fusciata Wrentit
	Genus Turdoides view • edit T. nipalensis Spiny Babbler T. altirostris Iraq Babbler T. caudata Common Babbler T. earlei Striated Babbler T. gularis White-throated Babbler T. longirostris Slender-billed Babbler T. malcolmi Large Grey Babbler T. squamiceps Arabian Babbler T. fulva Fulvous Chatterer T. aylmeri Scaly Chatterer T. rubiginosa Rufous Chatterer T. subrufa Rufous Babbler T. striata Jungle Babbler T. rufescens Orange-billed Babbler T. affinis Yellow-billed Babbler T. reinwardtii Blackcap Babbler T. tenebrosa Dusky Babbler T. sharpei Black-lored Babbler T. hartlaubii Hartlaub's Babbler T. melanops Black-faced Babbler T. squamulata Scaly Babbler T. leucopygia White-rumped Babbler T. bicolor Southern Pied-Babbler T. hypoleuca Northern Pied-Babbler T. hindei Hinde's Pied-Babbler T. leucocephala White-headed Babbler T. plebejus Brown Babbler T. jardineii Arrow-marked Babbler T. gymnogenys Bare-cheeked Babbler
	Genus Babax view • edit B. lanceolatus Chinese Babax B. waddelli Giant Babax B. koslowi Tibetan Babax
	Genus Leiothrix view • edit L. argentauris Silver-eared Mesia L. lutea Red-billed Leiothrix
	Genus Cutia view • edit C. nipalensis Cutia
	Genus Pteruthius view • edit P. rufiventer Black-headed Shrike-Babbler P. flaviscapis White-browed Shrike-Babbler P. xanthochlorus Green Shrike-Babbler P. melanotis Black-eared Shrike-Babbler P. aenobarbus Chestnut-fronted Shrike-Babbler
	Genus Gampsorhynchus view • edit G. rufulus White-hooded Babbler
	Genus Actinodura view • edit A. egertoni Rusty-fronted Barwing A. ramsayi Spectacled Barwing A. sodangorum Black-crowned Barwing A. nipalensis Hoary-throated Barwing A. waldeni Streak-throated Barwing A. souliei Streaked Barwing A. morrisoniana Taiwan Barwing
	Genus Minla view • edit M. cyanouroptera Blue-winged Minla M. strigula Chestnut-tailed Minla M. ignotincta Red-tailed Minla
	Genus Alcippe view • edit A. chrysotis Golden-breasted Fulvetta A. variegaticeps Gold-fronted Fulvetta A. cinerea Yellow-throated Fulvetta A. castaneceps Rufous-winged Fulvetta A. vinipectus White-browed Fulvetta A. striatiollis Chinese Fulvetta A. ruficapilla Spectacled Fulvetta A. cinereiceps Streak-throated Fulvetta A. ludlowi Ludlow's Fulvetta A. rufogularis Rufous-throated Fulvetta A. brunnea Dusky Fulvetta A. dubia Rusty-capped Fulvetta A. brunneicauda Brown Fulvetta A. poioicephala Brown-cheeked Fulvetta A. morrisonia Grey-cheeked Fulvetta A. pyrrhoptera Javan Fulvetta A. peracensis Mountain Fulvetta A. nipalensis Nepal Fulvetta
	Genus Lioptilus view • edit L. nigricapillus Bush Blackcap
	Genus Kupeornis view • edit K. gilberti White-throated Mountain-Babbler K. rufocinctus Red-collared Mountain-Babbler K. chapini Chapin's Mountain-Babbler
	Genus Horizorhinus view • edit H. dohrni Dohrn's Thrush-Babbler
	Genus Parophasma view • edit P. galinieri Abyssinian Catbird
	Genus Phyllanthus view • edit P. atripennis Capuchin Babbler
	Genus Crocias view • edit C. langbianis Grey-crowned Crocias C. albonotatus Spotted Crocias
	Genus Heterophasia view • edit H. annectens Rufous-backed Sibia H. capistrata Rufous Sibia H. gracilis Grey Sibia H. melanoleuca Black-backed Sibia H. desgodinsi Black-headed Sibia H. auricularis White-eared Sibia H. pulchella Beautiful Sibia H. picaoides Long-tailed Sibia
	Genus Yuhina view • edit Y. castaniceps Striated Yuhina Y. everetti Chestnut-crested Yuhina Y. bakeri White-naped Yuhina Y. flavicollis Whiskered Yuhina Y. humilis Burmese Yuhina Y. gularis Stripe-throated Yuhina Y. diademata White-collared Yuhina Y. occipitalis Rufous-vented Yuhina Y. brunneiceps Taiwan Yuhina Y. nigrimenta Black-chinned Yuhina Y. zantholeuca White-bellied Yuhina
	Genus Myzornis view • edit M. pyrrhoura Fire-tailed Myzornis
	Genus Oxylabes view • edit O. madagascariensis White-throated Oxylabes
	Genus Crossleyia view • edit C. xanthophrys Yellow-browed Oxylabes
	Genus Mystacornis view • edit M. crossleyi Crossley's Babbler

[edit] References

1. del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Christie, D.A. eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 12. Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-96553-42-6
2. Clements James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019