Capuchin Babbler

Turdoides atripennis

A chunky, short-tailed babbler with a purple-brown body, a yellowish bill and legs, and a mostly silver-gray head; the amount of black and gray on the throat and crown differ geographically. Unmistakable if seen well. Family groups of 5–12 are local residents skulking in the undergrowth and tangles of forest, secondary growth, and riparian thickets in savanna. Groups mostly communicate with dry harsh grating calls and chattering, but occasionally give a whimsical high-pitched, downslurred thrush-like whistle: “wheeeer.” 

Identification

The capuchin babbler (Turdoides atripennis) is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. It has a disjunct range across the western and northern parts of the African tropical rainforest. The capuchin babbler was moved from the monotypic genus Phyllanthus to Turdoides based on the results of a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2018.

Taxonomy

Genus: Turdoides; Family: Leiothrichidae; Order: Passeriformes.

Scientific name
Turdoides atripennis
Authority
(Swainson, 1837)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Leiothrichidae
Genus
Turdoides

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Behavior

Migration pattern: Resident species.

Conservation

Population trend: declining.

Population trend
declining

Photos

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