Alternative names: Large-footed Wren-Babbler
- Turdinus macrodactylus
Napothera macrodactyla
Identification
19cm (7½ in). A fairly large, streaky brown babbler:
- Streaked light brown and black crown to back
- Plainer and more rufescent brown on uppertail-coverts and fluffy rump
- Upperwing and tail brown
- Whitish lores
- Greyish-blue bare skin around eye separated from crown by black line
- Blackish-brown ear-coverts
- Speckled whitish and brown submoustachial area
- White chin, throat and upper breast with some brown flecking, bordered by blackish breast-band (missing in lepidopleura)
- Brownish-grey breast and belly with some vague broad buffy white streaks
Sexes similar. Juveniles with paler upperparts and more rufous.
Distribution
Found from southern Thailand to peninsular Malaysia and on Sumatra and Java (Indonesia).
Extinct in Singapore, one unconfirmed record in Bali.
Fairly common in parts of its range.
Taxonomy
Also placed in genus Napothera.
Subspecies
Three subspecies accepted[1]:
- T. m. macrodactylus froum southern Thailand to peninsular Malaysia
- T. m. beauforti on Sumatra
- T. m. lepidopleurus on Java
Habitat
Broadleaf evergreen forest, also selectively logged forest and bamboo forest. Prefers thickets of rattan, salak palm, bamboo and ginger. Up to 700m in Malaysia, up to 900m in Java.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on invertebrates.
Usually seen singly, in pairs or small groups. Forages close to the ground.
Breeding
Breeding season March and September in Java, December to July in southeast Asia. The nest is a large cup made of dead leaves. It's placed 0.4 to 1m above the ground in the middle of rattan, pandan or in the crown of a spiny palm. Lays 2 eggs.
Movements
Resident species.
Gallery
Click on photo for larger image
Photo by Dave B
Meropoh, Taman Negara, Malaysia
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- 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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Large Wren-Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 1 September 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Large_Wren-Babbler