Alternative names: Chinese Bush-Dweller; Chinese Babbler; Grey-browed Babbler; Chinese Hill Warbler; Peking Warbler; White-browed Bush-Dweller
- Rhopophilus pekinensis
Includes: Tarim Babbler; Beijing Babbler
Identification
15 - 17cm. A small passerine:
- Very long, graduated tail
- Pale grey and sandy plumage
- Heavy dark streaks above
- Pale rufous streaking below
- Albosuperciliaris much paler than nominate
The female is similar but has a shorter tail and is less streaked on belly.
Distribution
Found in west, central and north China and North Korea. No recent records in South Korea.
Uncommon in its vast range.
Taxonomy
Rhopophilus pekinensis is the only species in the genus Rhopophilus. It's placed here within the Sylviidae, but is closely related to the Timaliidae.
There are two subspecies:
- R. p. albosuperciliaris
- North-western China from Tarim Basin to Lop Nor - sometimes recognized as full species, Tarim Babbler
- R. p. pekinensis
The subspecies leptorhynchus is no longer accepted and lumped with the nominate subspecies.
Habitat
Found in dry stone montane scrub, tamarisks, long grass, bush-covered hill slopes and in reed clumps.
Behaviour
No information on diet. Feeds probably on invertebrates.
Forages in vegetation but also often seen running on the ground.
Outside breeding season in flocks, sometimes together with babblers.
Breeding season in May. The nest is a deep cup made of soft grasses and placed low in a bush. Lays 4 - 6 eggs.
Resident species with some displacement in winter.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. 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. (2021) White-browed Chinese Warbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 31 May 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/White-browed_Chinese_Warbler
