Ashy-headed Babbler
Pellorneum cinereiceps
A fairly small, short-tailed bird of forest floor or understory from the lowlands to low elevations in the mountains of Palawan and Balabac. Rufous-brown on the back, wings, and tail, with a white throat and belly and pale orange across the chest, down the sides, and under the base to the tail. Note the gray head and the thin black moustache stripe. Somewhat similar to Palawan Babbler, but smaller, with a much shorter tail, and is found on or near the ground. Song includes a sequence of downslurred, raspy nasal notes.
Identification
The ashy-headed babbler is 13 cm (5.1 in) long and weighs 22–26 g (0.78–0.92 oz). The crown and nape are grey, and the rest of the face is light grey except for a moustachial stripe. The upperparts, upperwing and tail are ochre-brown, the throat, breast and belly are white with an narrow ochre wash across the breast and along the flanks. The legs are pinkish and the bill is grey above and pink below. The sexes are the same. The calls include a nasal jhieu-jhieu-jhieu-jhieu.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pellorneum cinereiceps
- Authority
- (Tweeddale, 1878)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pellorneidae
- Genus
- Pellorneum
Range and habitat
It is endemic to Palawan in the Philippines. The species is found in primary forest and secondary forest as well as scrubland, from sea-level to 1,300 m (4,300 ft). The species is non-migratory. The species is listed as least concern.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The behaviour of this species is poorly known. Nothing is known about its diet, but it is assumed to eat small invertebrates. It feeds singly or in pairs and close to the ground, in a manner very similar to the short-tailed babbler. It is inquisitive and flicks its wings while foraging.<p>The breeding season of the ashy-headed babbler is between April and September. They nest on the ground at the base of rattan (a type of climbing palm); the nest is a cup of grasses, rattan fibres and bamboo leaves, lined with lichens and moss. Two eggs are laid, which can be white with red or brown spots or blue with dark brown speckles.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
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