- 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
It was formerly considered conspecific with Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler and Black-necklaced Scimitar Babbler.
Placed in genus Megapomatorhinus by Clements.
Subspecies
Two subspecies recognized:
- P. s. swinhoei in east China (Anhui, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian)
- P. s. abbreviatus in southeast China (Guangxi, Hunan, 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
- 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, 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/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 31 May 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Grey-sided_Scimitar_Babbler
