Puff-throated Babbler

Overview

The puff-throated babbler (Pellorneum ruficeps), also known as the spotted babbler, is a species of passerine bird found across Asia. It is a common resident breeder in hilly regions, typically inhabiting scrub and moist forests.

Identification

• Brown above with white underparts that are heavily brown-streaked towards the breast and belly.
• A distinctive chestnut crown accompanied by a long buff supercilium and dusky cheeks.
• A white throat that is often puffed out, providing the species' English name.
• A loud, distinct morning song consisting of whistling notes ascending in scale, sometimes transcribed as 'he'll beat you, pret-ty-sweet'.

Habitat

This species is found in scrub, bamboo thickets, and moist forests, primarily in hilly regions across the Himalayas and the forests of Asia. It is a widespread non-migratory resident with a distribution that supports nearly thirty subspecies.

Diet

Puff-throated babblers forage on the forest floor in small groups, turning over leaf litter to find insects. They spend considerable time creeping through low undergrowth where they can be difficult to spot.

Did you know?

Parent birds exhibit rodent-like running behaviour as they move in and out of their nests, which are dome-shaped structures built on the ground at the base of a bush.