Tarim Babbler
Rhopophilus albosuperciliaris
Uncommon, sandy-colored babbler of dry scrubby and weedy areas, often on hill- and mountain-sides. Readily distinguished from other brown birds in its range by its long tail, thickset appearance, pale brow, and faint dark streaking on the back. Looks like a faded version of the closely related Beijing Babbler (no range overlap). Forages on or close to the ground, often in small flocks. Varied repertoire includes a loud jumbled series of bright warbling calls, as well as bulbul-like chattering and high rattling twittering. Restricted to northwestern China.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Rhopophilus albosuperciliaris
- Authority
- (Hume, 1871)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Sylviidae
- Genus
- Rhopophilus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Bismarck Monarch
Symposiachrus verticalis
A medium-sized pied monarch with a black face and throat. Back and wings black with a large white wing patch. Underside white, tail black. Clearly prefers primary forest; less common in secondary forest. Often found in bamboo thickets. Song is a descending series of weak whistles. Common calls include harsh churring notes.
Rufous-fronted Tailorbird
Orthotomus frontalis
A small, long-billed, long-tailed bird of dense tangled undergrowth in lowland forest. Has olive-green wings, back, and tail, a pale belly, a gray head and chest with streaks, a rufous forehead and mask, and orange legs. Similar in habits and shape to White-browed Tailorbird, but lacks the black head and white brow. Also similar to Phillipine Leaf-Warbler, but has a longer bill and usually cocks its tail. Song is an accelerating series of slightly rising notes ending in a staccato trill.
Pink-bellied Imperial-Pigeon
Ducula poliocephala
A large pigeon of foothill and lower montane forest canopy with a white head, a dark bluish-gray chest and upper back, green wings, a whitish belly with a pink tinge, and rufous under the base of the tail. Note the large red eye-ring. Somewhat similar to Mindoro Imperial-Pigeon, but Pink-bellied has a dark neck and chest. Song is a deep, booming, upslurred “doo-dup! doo-dup!”which can be heard from a distance.
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