Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler

Jabouilleia danjoui

Alternative names: Indochinese Wren Babbler; Danjou's Babbler; Naung Mung Scimitar Babbler (naungmungensis)

Photo by James Eaton
Location: Boch Ma,N.E. Vietnam.

Identification

With 18 - 19 cm a medium-sized babbler¹:

• Brown above, buff and white below
• Long, black, decurved bill
• Greyish-brown ear-coverts
• Brown to black moustachial and malar lines
• White throat

Naungmungensis is much darker than parvirostris and nominate.

Distribution

Mainly in Vietnam and adjacent southern Laos. Subspecies naungmungensis is found in Myanmar, in the Naung Mung area in Kachin State.

Taxonomy

Usually three subspecies are recognized:

• J. d. danjoui in S Vietnam
• J. d. parvirostris in Central Vietnam and adjacent S Laos
• J. d. naungmungensis in N Myanmar (Kachin State)

The species is sometimes also placed in the genus Rimator and named Indochinese Wren Babbler¹. Clements² leaves it in Jabouilleia but he accepts naungmungensis as full species, Naung Mung Scimitar Babbler Jabouilleia nangmungensis.

Habitat

Primary and secondary broadleaf evergreen forest. Also found in rocky areas, up to 2100m.

Behaviour

Believed to feed on invertebrates, foraging on the ground or just above, in dense vegetation. Usually found single, in pairs or small family parties.
Breeds from January to April in Vietnam, lays 2 eggs. No other data.
Resident.¹

References

1. del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Christie, D.A. eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 12. Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-96553-42-6
2. Clements James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019

External Links

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