Alternative names: Luzon Wren-Babbler; Rabor's Babbler
- Napothera rabori
Includes: Rusty-headed Babbler; Grey-banded Babbler
Identification
20 - 22cm. A long-billed and long-legged Babbler with two different groups:
Rusty-headed Babbler:
- Rusty-rufous crown with narrow black scales
- Upperparts rufescent-olive with larger blackish scaling, plainer and rustier on lower upperparts
- Bold white spots on wing
- Plain rusty chestnut face, white lores
- White submoustachial stripe, narrow black malar line
- White throat with black spots on side
- Breast greyish with fine white streaking, vent dark rufescent brown
Grey-banded Babbler:
- Greyish-olive crown with faint dark scales
- Upperparts olive, becoming uniform brown on lower back
- Bold white spots on wing
- White lores and narrow supercilium above eye, cheek and ear-coverts grey
- White submoustachial stripe, narrow blackish malar line
- White unspotted throat
- Middle to lower breast grey, belly white, vent dark brown
Sexes are similar.
Distribution
Endemic to Luzon and Catnaduanes, Philippines.
Uncommon in its range, but difficult to assess because of secretive habits.
Taxonomy
Three subspecies recognized which are sometimes split into two species:
- Rusty-headed Babbler, Robsonius rabori (or Rusty-faced Babbler or keeping the old name)
- N. r. rabori in northeast Luzon
- Grey-banded Babbler, Robsonius sorsogonensis (or Sorsogon Wren-Babbler)
- N. r. mesoluzonicus in central Luzon
- N. r. sorsogonensis in south Luzon and Catanduanes
Both split species are placed in their own genus Robsonius.
Habitat
Moist lowland forests and secondary growth. Up to 1000m.
Behaviour
Feeds on invertebrates.
Forages on the floor, walking slowly. Shy and secretive, difficult to see.
Breeding season February to August (sorsogonensis). The nest is a large ball with a front entrance, some 0.6m above the ground in rattan. Lays 2 eggs.
Resident species.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- 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. (2021) Rabor's Wren-Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 1 June 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Rabor%27s_Wren-Babbler
