Alternative name: Southern Treepie
- Dendrocitta leucogastra
Identification
45cm. An unmistakable treepie:
- Black face, breast and wing
- Rufous mantle
- White underparts and nape
- Long white tail with broad black tip and outher feathers
Sexes similar. Juveniles are duller, have some buff-fringed feathers and an ill-defined black bib.
Distribution
Endemic to the Western Ghats in southwest India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka).
A locally common restricted-range species.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Forms a species group with Bornean Treepie, Sumatran Treepie and Grey Treepie.
Habitat
Lush evergreen hill forest, also in secondary forest with relict patches of primary forest and shola forest. Avoids human habitation. Occurs from 60m to 1500m.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds omnivorous, mainly on invertebrates and their larvae, small lizards, rodents, eggs, nestlings, flower nectar, fruits and seeds.
Usually seen in pairs or family parties, often in mixed parties, particularly with Greater Racket-tailed Drongo.
Breeding
Breeding season from February to April. The nest is a platform of twigs on a medium sized tree. Lays 3 - 4 eggs.
Movements
A resident species. Some old records from further north known.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
- Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) White-bellied Treepie. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 18 March 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-bellied_Treepie
