From Opus

Alternative names: Black-headed Babbler; Black-fronted Babbler

Photo by kctsang
Sri Lanka, July 2010

Photo by Tanager
Kandalama, Sri Lanka, April 2008

Rhopocichla atriceps

[edit] Identification

13cm. A small compact babbler with a variable dark head.

[edit] Adults

• Short square-tipped tail
• Yellow eyes
• White throat, breast and belly
• Black crown and cheek in nominate race
• Sooty brown in bourdilloni
• Brown crown in siccata and nigrifrons (see picture)

[edit] Juvenile

• Black on head less sharply defined

[edit] Distribution

	India and Sri Lanka. In India found in the Western Ghats, from about Belgaum to the south. In Sri Lanka found in the centre and the south-west. Locally common.
	Legend • R. a. atriceps; year-round • R. a. bourdilloni; year-round • R. a. siccata; year-round • R. a. nigrifrons; year-round Maps/Texts consulted1,2,3,4

[edit] Taxonomy

Subspecies atriceps
Photo by Prasanna Parab
Cotigao WLS, Goa, India, February 2011

[edit] Subspecies

Four subspecies recognized:⁴

• R.a. atriceps (Western Ghats from Belgaum to Palghat Gap)
• R.a. bourdilloni (Western Ghats south of Palghat Gap)
• R.a. siccata (Central Sri Lanka)
• R.a. nigrifrons (Southwest Sri Lanka)

This bird has also sometimes been placed in the genus Alcippe.

[edit] Habitat

Undergrowth in broadleaved evergreen forest. Also found around clearings, in secondary growth, abandoned and overgrown plantations, bamboo, sholas or thickets near streams or marshes. In India mainly between 600 and 1800m, in Sri Lanka up to 2100m.

[edit] Behaviour

A skulking bird, often first heard and then seen. Often found in small parties up to a dozen birds, usually near the ground. Sometimes seen with other babblers or in bird waves.

[edit] Diet

Feeds on insects

[edit] Breeding

May breed year round, in India mainly from March to July, in Sri Lanka from October to May. Building its nest in thick vegetation, creating a loose dome. Lays 2 eggs. Also known to build cock nests, untidy domes in full view, not used for breeding but sometimes used as roosting sites.

Resident, no movements known.

[edit] Vocalisation

A rattling call.

[edit] References

1. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
2. Grimmett, R, C Inskipp, and T Inskipp. 1998. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-0713640045
3. Kazmierczak, K and B van Perlo. 2000. A Field Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. New Haven: Yale Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0300079210
4. 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
5. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist

• List of references

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages