Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler

Photo by nhattanla
Da Lat, VietNam, April 2018

Alternative names: Indochinese Wren Babbler; Danjou's Babbler

Jabouilleia danjoui

Includes: Naung Mung Scimitar Babbler

Identification

Photo by James Eaton
Boch Ma, Vietnam, March 2007

With 18 - 19 cm (7-7½ in); 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

Variations

naungmungensis much darker than nominate

Distribution

Mainly in Vietnam and adjacent southern Laos. A small population in Myanmar.
Restricted range species, generally uncommon but common locally, eg Bach Ma National Park or Ho Ke Go Nature Reserve.

Taxonomy

The species is sometimes also placed in the genus Rimator and named Indochinese Wren Babbler¹.
Clements now places this species in the genus Napothera.

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized:

• J. d. danjoui in S Vietnam
• J. d. parvirostris in Central Vietnam and adjacent S Laos
• J. d. naungmungensis in the Naung Mung area in Kachin State, Myanmar

naungmungensis is sometimes accepted as full species.

Habitat

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

Behaviour

Diet

Believed to feed on invertebrates, foraging on the ground or just above, in dense vegetation. Usually found single, in pairs or small family parties.

Breeding

Breeds from January to April in Vietnam, lays 2 eggs. No other data.

Movements

Resident.¹

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. 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

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Short-tailed_Scimitar_Babbler

External Links

Search for photos of Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler in the gallery