Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler - BirdForum Opus

Alternative names: McClelland's Scimitar Babbler

Photo by paux
W. Yunnan, China, February 2016

Erythrogenys mcclellandi

Pomatorhinus mcclellandi
Megapomatorhinus mcclellandi

Identification

22 - 25 cm (8¾-9¾ in)

• Crown and upperparts olive-brown
• Face and flanks olive-brown
• 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

From east Bhutan and northeast India to east Bangladesh and Burma.
Common in parts of its range.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.

It was formerly considered conspecific with Black-necklaced Scimitar Babbler, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler and Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler.

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. They build a domed nest with a side entrance, on the ground or in a low bush. It is made from leaves, coarse grass and plant fibres. Lays 3 - 6 eggs.

Movements

Resident species.

Gallery

Click on photo for larger image

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  Photo by James Eaton
  Mt. Victoria, Myanmar, February 2011

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. (2025) Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Spot-breasted_Scimitar_Babbler

External Links

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