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| − | + | [[Image:Wedge-billed_Wren-Babbler.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Bird of subspecies ''humei''<br />Photo by {{user|James+Eaton|James Eaton}}<br>Location: Eaglenest WS,Arunachal Pradesh, [[India]]]] | |
| − | |||
[[Image:Chevron-breasted_Babbler-1_by_James_Eaton.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Bird of subspecies ''roberti''<br />Photo by {{user|James_Eaton|James Eaton}}<br />Nagaland, N.E. [[India]], April 2007.]] | [[Image:Chevron-breasted_Babbler-1_by_James_Eaton.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Bird of subspecies ''roberti''<br />Photo by {{user|James_Eaton|James Eaton}}<br />Nagaland, N.E. [[India]], April 2007.]] | ||
| − | + | '''Alternative names: (Sikkim or Western) Wedge-billed Babbler; Blackish-breasted Babbler''' | |
;[[:Category:Sphenocichla|Sphenocichla]] humei | ;[[:Category:Sphenocichla|Sphenocichla]] humei | ||
| − | + | '''Includes Chevron-breasted Wren-Babbler = Chevron-breasted Babbler; (Cachar or Eastern) Wedge-billed Babbler''' | |
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| + | 18cm. An unusual, dark brown Babbler with two distinctive subspecies (which are sometimes split). | ||
| + | *''S. h. humei'' ('''Blackish-breasted Babbler'''; ('''Sikkim''') '''Wedge-billed Babbler'''): | ||
| + | ** Longish, dark sharply pointed bill with a deep base | ||
| + | ** Short and broad, finely barred tail | ||
| + | ** Blackish mask and underparts with some dark olive-brown streaks on flanks | ||
| + | ** Coarse white scales at centre of belly | ||
| + | ** Dark brown above | ||
| + | ** Spotty pale grey supercilium behind eye | ||
| + | ** Crisp white shaft-streaks on cronw and upper mantle | ||
| + | * ''S. h. roberti'' ('''Chevron-breasted Babbler'''; '''Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler'''): | ||
| + | ** Longish, dark sharply pointed bill with a deep base | ||
| + | ** Short and broad, finely barred tail | ||
| + | ** Very bold white triangular scales on browner underparts | ||
| + | ** Plain brownish cheek | ||
| + | ** No supercilium (only some pale spots behind eye) | ||
| + | ** Pale grey tips on mantle and tertials | ||
| + | Sexes similar | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[Bhutan]] | + | * ''S. h. humei'': |
| − | + | ** From extrem east [[Nepal]] to [[Bhutan]] and northeast [[India]] (Arunachal Pradesh) | |
| + | * ''S. h. roberti'' | ||
| + | ** From eastern Arunachal Pradesh (Mishmi Hills) to Assam (Cachar, Margherita), Nagaland and north Manipur ([[India]]). Also in adjacent north [[Burma]] and south [[China]] (northwest Yunnan) | ||
| + | Both subspecies are scarce and rare in their range. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | Two subspecies are recognized<sup>[[#References|[ | + | Two subspecies are recognized<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>, ''humei'', and ''roberti''. These are considered different species by some authorities, in which case the ''roberti'' subspecies would become Chevron-breasted Wren-Babbler (= Chevron-breasted Babbler). |
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| − | + | Floor and understorey of broadleaf evergreen forest and bamboo breaks. ''Humei'' at 900 - 1950m, ''roberti'' at 300 - 2010m. | |
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | + | Feeds on insects like woodlice and small boring beetles. <br /> | |
| + | Usually seen in groups of up to 15 birds. Relatively arboreal at times, may climb up rough bark of bigger trees. Often hunting in dense undergrowth near streams.<br /> | ||
| + | Breeding season May to June (roberti, no information about humei). The nest is a pad of moss on top of a mass of fine grass and a few tendrils and bents. It's wedged behind a long hanging slip of bark about 6.5m above the ground. Lays 4 eggs.<br /> | ||
| + | Resident species. Some recorded altitudinal movements need substantiation. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | # | + | #{{Ref-HBWVol12}}#{{Ref-RasmussenAnderton05}}#{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}} |
| + | {{Ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Sphenocichla+humei}} | {{GSearch|Sphenocichla+humei}} | ||
Revision as of 15:19, 20 August 2009
Alternative names: (Sikkim or Western) Wedge-billed Babbler; Blackish-breasted Babbler
- Sphenocichla humei
Includes Chevron-breasted Wren-Babbler = Chevron-breasted Babbler; (Cachar or Eastern) Wedge-billed Babbler
Identification
18cm. An unusual, dark brown Babbler with two distinctive subspecies (which are sometimes split).
- S. h. humei (Blackish-breasted Babbler; (Sikkim) Wedge-billed Babbler):
- Longish, dark sharply pointed bill with a deep base
- Short and broad, finely barred tail
- Blackish mask and underparts with some dark olive-brown streaks on flanks
- Coarse white scales at centre of belly
- Dark brown above
- Spotty pale grey supercilium behind eye
- Crisp white shaft-streaks on cronw and upper mantle
- S. h. roberti (Chevron-breasted Babbler; Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler):
- Longish, dark sharply pointed bill with a deep base
- Short and broad, finely barred tail
- Very bold white triangular scales on browner underparts
- Plain brownish cheek
- No supercilium (only some pale spots behind eye)
- Pale grey tips on mantle and tertials
Sexes similar
Distribution
- S. h. humei:
- S. h. roberti
Both subspecies are scarce and rare in their range.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies are recognized[2], humei, and roberti. These are considered different species by some authorities, in which case the roberti subspecies would become Chevron-breasted Wren-Babbler (= Chevron-breasted Babbler).
Habitat
Floor and understorey of broadleaf evergreen forest and bamboo breaks. Humei at 900 - 1950m, roberti at 300 - 2010m.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects like woodlice and small boring beetles.
Usually seen in groups of up to 15 birds. Relatively arboreal at times, may climb up rough bark of bigger trees. Often hunting in dense undergrowth near streams.
Breeding season May to June (roberti, no information about humei). The nest is a pad of moss on top of a mass of fine grass and a few tendrils and bents. It's wedged behind a long hanging slip of bark about 6.5m above the ground. Lays 4 eggs.
Resident species. Some recorded altitudinal movements need substantiation.
References
- 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
- Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
- 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.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 8 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Sikkim_Wedge-billed_Babbler
