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Black-eared Shrike-babbler (Pteruthius melanotis)

Black-eared Shrike-babbler

Pteruthius melanotis

Least Concern

Overview

The black-eared shrike-babbler (Pteruthius melanotis) is a bird species currently classified in the vireo family, Vireonidae, though it was formerly placed in the babbler family Timaliidae. It was traditionally considered an aberrant Old World babbler, with its vireo-like habits previously ascribed to convergent evolution. The species is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Habitat

This species is found in Southeast Asia, ranging from the Himalayas to western Malaysia. Its natural habitat consists of subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

Did you know?

The bird's habits resemble those of vireos so closely that its placement in the family Timaliidae was once thought to be the result of convergent evolution rather than close phylogenetic relatedness.

Sources