Alternative names: Sikkim or Western Wedge-billed Babbler
- Stachyris humei
Sphenocichla humei
Identification
18cm. An unusual, dark brown Babbler:
- Longish, dark sharply pointed bill with a deep base
- Short and broad, finely barred tail
- Blackish mask and underparts with some dark olive-brown streaks on flanks
- Coarse white scales at centre of belly
- Dark brown above
- Spotty pale grey supercilium behind eye
- Crisp white shaft-streaks on cronw and upper mantle
Sexes similar
Distribution
From extrem east Nepal to Bhutan and northeast India (Arunachal Pradesh).
Scarce and rare in their range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
It was formerly considered conspecific with Chevron-breasted Babbler.
Formerly placed in genus Sphenocichla.
Habitat
Floor and understorey of broadleaf evergreen forest and bamboo breaks. Found at 900 - 1950m.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects like woodlice and small boring beetles.
Usually seen in groups of up to 15 birds. Relatively arboreal at times, may climb up rough bark of bigger trees. Often hunting in dense undergrowth near streams.
No information about breeding.
Resident species. Some recorded altitudinal movements need substantiation.
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) Blackish-breasted Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Blackish-breasted_Babbler
