Rufous Babbler
Argya subrufa
Large rufous-brown babbler with a long tail and white eyes. Pale gray forehead evident if seen well. Not as bold and pugnacious as some of its close relatives; typically forages in dense undergrowth in foothill forest and forest edge, often in wetter areas than Jungle, Common, and Large Gray Babblers. Gives distinctive rising rattle-whistles: “trriIIII! trriiiIII!”
Identification
This babbler is large and dark olive brown above with a grey forehead. The wing feathers have a rufous tinge. The feathers of the forehead have black shafts. The iris is pale white to yellow and the lores are dark. The underside is bright rufous, and paler on the center of the throat and belly. The nominate form (type location: Mananthawadi) is found in the Western Ghats north of the Palghat Gap while hyperythra found to the south is said to be more richly coloured. They are 25–26 cm long with a wing of 8.7-9.0 cm. The tail is about 11–11.5 cm long.
Taxonomy
The rufous babbler was formerly placed in the genus Turdoides but following the publication of a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study in 2018, it was moved to the resurrected genus Argya.
- Scientific name
- Argya subrufa
- Authority
- (Jerdon, 1839)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Leiothrichidae
- Genus
- Argya
Range and habitat
This species is found in the Western Ghats south of Mahabaleshwar south to the Palni hills and east into the Shevaroy hills. They are found mainly close to the ground where they feed on insects and berries but will also make use of trees. The usual habitat is open forest, scrub or grassy hillsides.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The breeding season is mainly from February to November and the nest is a small cup in the fork of a tree. The eggs, ranging from two to four but usually three are dark glossy blue.<p>They have a loud ringing treenh-treenh call.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Moustached Babbler
Malacopteron magnirostre
Dull gray-brown babbler with a white belly. Namesake moustache is often faint and difficult to see. Sooty-capped Babbler is extremely similar but has a darker brown crown, a darker tail, and no moustache at all. Found in lowland and hill forests. Forages at middle and lower levels, clambering around on branches and trunks in small-to-medium-sized flocks, sometimes with other species. Sings a whistled series of descending notes; pairs often engage in duets. Calls include soft chips and raspy notes.
Gray-headed Albatross
Thalassarche chrysostoma
Rarely found north of cold subantarctic waters; ranges south to pack-ice in summer. Adult has a gray head, thick black underwing margins like much commoner Black-browed Albatross. Immatures look similar to Black-browed overall, but told by black bill that soon develops yellow along top, and often with variable gray hood. Yellow bill edges narrower than the more lightly built Buller’s Albatross, which occurs to the north but is often mistaken for Gray-headed.
Camiguin Bulbul
Hypsipetes catarmanensis
A fairly large bulbul of forest and forest edge on Camiguin, where it is unmistakable. Dark olive-brown with a pale bill. Forages actively, often in large, vocal flocks. Song consists of a descending series of medium-pitched notes, jumping back to a higher note at the end. Also gives harsh grating calls and nasal screeches.
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