Marbled Wren-Babbler - BirdForum Opus

Photo by Dave B
Fraser's Hill, Malaysia, June 2009

Turdinus marmoratus

Napothera marmorata

Identification

21.5cm. A large, prominent scaled babbler:

• Deep warm brown with blackish scaling from crown to back, plainer on rump
• Dull rufescent brown tail and upperwing
• Whitish lores, chestnut face
• White chin and throat, black scaling on lower throat
• Breast and bally black with narrow white scaling
• Dull ochrous-chestnut on lower flanks and vent

Sexes similar. Juveniles have rufous shaft streaks on head and mantle.
Grandior is slightly larger than nominate.

Distribution

Found in peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra (Indonesia).
Rare and local.

Taxonomy

Two subspecies recognized:

• T. m. grandior in peninsular Malaysia
• T. m. marmoratus on Sumatra

Also placed in genus Turdinus.

Habitat

Lower montane broadleaf evergreen forest. From 1000 - 2000m in Sumatra, 610 - 1220m in Malaysia.

Behaviour

Feeds on insects, takes sometimes fallen berries and small fruits.
Forages on or near the ground. Very shy and secretive, difficult to see.
No information about breeding.
Resident species.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
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

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Marbled Wren-Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 10 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Marbled_Wren-Babbler

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