Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler - BirdForum Opus

Photo by James Eaton
Wuyishan, Jiangxi, China, May 2008

Erythrogenys swinhoei

Megapomatorhinus swinhoei
Pomatorhinus swinhoei

Identification

22 - 25 cm (8¾-9¾ in).

• Crown and upperparts rufous-brown
• Face and flanks grey
• Throat and belly white with dark spots or streaks on upper breast
• Yellow eyes
• Grey, curved bill
• Pale brown legs

Sexes similar.

Similar species

Distinguished from Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler by dark spots on upper breast.

Distribution

Found in east and southeast China.
Common in parts of its range.

Taxonomy

This is a polytypic species^[3] consisting of 2 subspecies.
It was formerly considered conspecific with Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler and Black-necklaced Scimitar Babbler.

Subspecies

• E. s. swinhoei:

• Eastern China (Anhui to northeastern Jiangxi and Fujian)

• E. s. abbreviatus:

• Southeastern China (southern Hunan, Guangxi, and northern Guangdong)

Habitat

Undergrowth in open forest, forest edge, scrub-jungle, secondary growth, grass-jungle. Found from 200m up to 3800m.

Behaviour

Diet

Feeds on insects and vegetable matter.
Usually seen singly or in pairs, foraging near the ground. Extremely skulking and difficult to find but easy to hear.

Breeding

Breeding season from March to June in most of its range. It builds a domed nest with a side entrance, of leaves, grasses and fibres which is placed on the ground or in a low bush. Lays 3 - 6 eggs.

Movements

Resident species.

References

1. 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
2. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
3. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Grey-sided_Scimitar_Babbler

External Links

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