From Opus

Photo by Bob Thompson
China, April, 2010

Alternative names: Chinese Bush-Dweller; Chinese Babbler; Grey-browed Babbler; Chinese Hill Warbler; Peking Warbler; White-browed Bush-Dweller

Rhopophilus pekinensis

[edit] Identification

15 - 17cm. A small passerine:

• Very long, graduated tail
• Pale grey and sandy plumage
• Heavy dark streaks above
• Pale rufous streaking below
• Albosuperciliaris much paler than nominate

The female is similar but has a shorter tail and is less streaked on belly.

[edit] Distribution

Found in west, central and north China and North Korea. No recent records in South Korea.
Uncommon in its vast range.

[edit] Taxonomy

Rhopophilus pekinensis is the only species in the genus Rhopophilus. It's placed here within the Sylviidae, but is closely related to the Timaliidae.
There are three subspecies:

• R. p. albosuperciliaris

• North-western China from Tarim Basin to Lop Nor

• R. p. leptorhynchus

• North-central China. Some authorities regard this subspecies as invalid and merge it with the nominate.

• R. p. pekinensis

• Southern Manchuria to Korea and north-eastern China

[edit] Habitat

Found in dry stone montane scrub, tamarisks, long grass, bush-covered hill slopes and in reed clumps.

[edit] Behaviour

No information on diet. Feeds probably on invertebrates.
Forages in vegetation but also often seen running on the ground.
Outside breeding season in flocks, sometimes together with babblers.
Breeding season in May. The nest is a deep cup made of soft grasses and placed low in a bush. Lays 4 - 6 eggs.
Resident species with some displacement in winter.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. 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

[edit] External Links