Alternative names: Red-headed Babbler; Rufous-crowned Babbler
- Cyanoderma ruficeps
Stachyris ruficeps; Stachyridopsis ruficeps
Identification
7 - 12cm. A small babbler:
- Pale olive plumage
- Strong yellowish tinge overall
- Bright rufous crown reaching nape
- No pale greyish eyebrow and eyering (see Rufous-fronted Babbler and Buff-chested Babbler)
- Larger bill than Rufous-fronted Babbler with more pinkish lower mandible
Sexes similar. Juveniles with duller crown and very similar to juveniles of Rufous-fronted Babbler and Buff-chested Babbler.
Confusion species
Very similar to Rufous-fronted Babbler and Buff-chested Babbler which lack yellowish suffusion and is whiter on throat and belly. Note also range and altitude.
Distribution
Found from east Nepal over Bhutan to northeast India, Burma, much of south and southeast China, Taiwan, Laos and Vietnam.
Common in most of its range.
Taxonomy
Formerly placed in the genus Stachyris or in Stachyridopsis.
Subspecies
Clements recognizes these subspecies[1]:
- C. r. ruficeps from eastern Nepal to Bhutan, adjacent southern China (southeastern Xizang), northeastern India (Arunachal Pradesh, south to southern Assam and northern Manipur), and western Myanmar
- C. r. davidi in central and southeast China, northwest Laos and north Vietnam
- C. r. bhamoense in northeast Burma and south China (Yunnan)
- C. r. goodsoni on Hainan (China)
- C. r. praecognitum on Taiwan
- C. r. paganum in south Laos and south Vietnam
The formerly recognized subspecies rufipectis is now considered synonymous with ruficeps.
Habitat
Broadleaf evergreen forest, secondary bush growth in clearings and bamboo stands. Found at 600 - 3200m in the Indian Subcontinent, 200 - 2500m in China, 950 - 2195m in southeast Asia.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects, takes sometimes also berries.
Outside breeding season in small groups, often together with other species. Forages in lower and middle storey.
Breeding season from April to July. The nest is a deep cup or a ball with a side entrance. It's made of bamboo leaves. leaf skeletons, fine grasses, rooots, bark, moss and fibres. It's placed in a low bush, clump of bamboo or among thick tangled vegetation usually 1 - 2m above ground. Lays 3 - 5 eggs.
Resident species with some altitudinal movement.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2023. IOC World Bird List (v 13.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.13.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
- 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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Rufous-capped Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Rufous-capped_Babbler
