Spot-throated Babbler
Pellorneum albiventre
Shy, skulky, frustratingly difficult to see, and not much to look at if seen well. A species of foothill and submontane open forest and forest edge, usually tucked well away in dense, tangled undergrowth. Brown overall with a pale, faintly streaked throat. East Indian subspecies has a white belly, while others are unmarked brown all over. Very similar to Buff-breasted Babbler, which has a clean, unstriped pale throat and is more slender in its build. Spot-throated’s song is musical and variable, usually incorporating clear whistles, lower chirrs and chatters, and imitations of other species. Calls are usually composed of low chattering or clicking notes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pellorneum albiventre
- Authority
- (Godwin-Austen, 1877)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pellorneidae
- Genus
- Pellorneum
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Henst's Goshawk
Astur henstii
A big, powerful goshawk. Adults are gray on the back with fine gray barring below; females much larger. Immatures have a brown back and thick streaks below. Endemic to Madagascar, where it is a scarce resident of all types of primary forest. Rarely sits in the open, and only occasionally soars. Territorial call is a loud repeated “khew” which is often given in flight. Males can be very hard to separate from similarly-sized female Madagascar Sparrowhawk. On Henst’s, look for fine bars on the undertail, a completely barred throat, and a central toe of normal length. Immatures may only be separable based on toe length. Also very similar to the rare Madagascar Serpent-Eagle. Subtle differences include slightly smaller size, evenly-spaced barring on the chest, thicker black bands on the tail, and an unbarred back.

Lanceolated Monklet
Micromonacha lanceolata
Small puffbird, always rare in the middle levels of lowland and foothill forest. Typical puffbird shape: rotund with a large flat head and thick hooked bill. Brown above and white below with heavy blackish streaking. Unlikely to be mistaken. Easy to overlook as it perches quietly, often around a clearing or edge within forest. Usually single or in pairs, occasionally associating with a mixed-species flock. Listen for rising whistled calls.

Altai Accentor
Prunella himalayana
Gray-brown overall with orange streaks on the breast and a white throat bordered by a thin black outline. Similar to Alpine Accentor, but darker and more extensively streaked. A common inhabitant of rocky alpine plateaus, meadows, and mountain slopes. Typically forages singly, but is often found in high numbers around campsites and towns where they scrounge for scraps.
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