Alternative names: Rufous-necked Scimitar-Babbler; Nepal Rufous-necked Scimitar-Babbler
- Pomatorhinus ruficollis
Identification
16 - 21cm (6¼-8¼ in). A small Scimitar-Babbler.
- Heavy rufous to greyish streaks on lower throat and breast grading into brown flanks are diagnostic
- Broad black mask and lores
- White supercilium
- Rufous chestnut collar
- Black eye
- Brown crown
- Dark grey brown upperparts
- White throat and upper breast
Sexes similar.
Distribution
From north India east along the Himalayas over Nepal, Bhutan to northeast India and south to southeast Bangladesh and west Burma. Also further east in much of south, south-central and east China, Laos and north Vietnam.
Locally common in its range.
Taxonomy
Taiwan Scimitar Babbler was formerly included as another subspecies.
In Laos possible hybridisation with White-browed Scimitar-Babbler reported.
Subspecies
13 subspecies recognized[1]:
- P. r. ruficollis in north India east to east-central Nepal
- P. r. godwini from east-central Nepal over Bhutan to northeast India and adjacent Tibet
- P. r. bakeri from the northeast Indian Hill states to southeast Bangladesh and west Burma
- P. r. similis in north Burma and south China (Yunnan to Sichuan)
- P. r. styani in east China (Gansu and Sichuan to Jiangsu and Zhejiang)
- P. r. eidos in southcentral China (Sichuan and adjacent Yunnan)
- P. r. laurentei around Kunming (Yunnan)
- P. r. albipectus in southcentral China (Yunnan) and extreme north Laos
- P. r. beaulieui in Laos
- P. r. reconditus in south China (Yunnan and Guangxi) and north Vietnam
- P. r. hunanensis in southeast China (Sichuan and Guizhou east to Hunan and Guangxi)
- P. r. stridulus in southeast China (Hunan and Guangdong east to Zhejiang and Fujian)
- P. r. nigrostellatus on Hainan (China)
Habitat
Dense scrub on hillsides, dense undergrowth in forest, open bamboo-jungle, rhododendron shrubs, brambles and bracken. Found at 200 - 3400m, up to 2300m in Taiwan.
Behaviour
A shy bird, usually seen in pairs, outside breeding season also in small groups of up to 6 birds, often together with other species. Forages near the ground.
Diet
Feeds on insects, larvae and grubs. Takes also seeds and berries.
Breeding
Breeding season January to July. It builds a ball shaped nest of grass and other plants, which is placed on the ground or sometimes low in a tree. Lays 2 - 5 eggs.
Movements
Resident species.
Vocalisation
Recording by china guy, North-eastern Sichuan, China, May 2011
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, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 March 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Streak-breasted_Scimitar_Babbler
