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Rusty-crowned babbler

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rusty-crowned babbler
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Zosteropidae
Genus: Sterrhoptilus
Species:
S. capitalis
Binomial name
Sterrhoptilus capitalis
(Tweeddale, 1877)

The rusty-crowned babbler (Sterrhoptilus capitalis) is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is native to the southern Philippines on the islands of Mindanao and Dinagat Islands and Basilan. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest.

Description and taxonomy

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An illustration by Smit

EBird describes it as "A fairly small bird of lowland and foothill forest and edge, with a rufous crown and a gray back and cheek, all with whitish streaks. Also has dark wings and tail with white outer tail feathers, and off-white underparts blending to a pale orange throat. Note the slender black bill. Often joins mixed-species flocks and sometimes hangs upside down while feeding. Somewhat similar to Brown Tit-Babbler, but slightly larger, with a rufous crown and a white belly. Flocks give a jumble of squeaky chattering notes."[2]

Subspecies

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Three subspecies are recognized:[3]

Ecology and behavior

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Typically seen singly, in pairs or mixed flocks along with Mindanao blue-fantails, sulphur-billed nuthatches, Philippine bulbuls, brown-tit babbler, Mindanao pygmy babbler,flowerpeckers, sunbirds and other small forest birds. Its diet is presumed to consist primarily of insects and some vegetable matter.[4]

Birds in breeding condition nwith enlarged gonads see in March and June. Immature birds have been seen in February, May and August. Otherwise, any breeding, mating, nesting and fledgling behaviours are unknown. Nest and chicks are undescribed.[5]

Habitat and conservation status

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Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It is seen on the undergrowth of primary forests or along forest edge.[6] Most Ebird and sight records are in the PICOP Logging Concession in Bislig which has undergone massive deforestation. Its population is believed to be descreasing.[7]

References

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  1. ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Sterrhoptilus capitalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22716207A132110934. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22716207A132110934.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Black-crowned Babbler". Ebird. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020.
  3. ^ "IOC World Bird List 6.3". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi:10.14344/ioc.ml.6.3.
  4. ^ Collar, Nigel; Robson, Craig (2020). "Rusty-crowned Babbler (Sterrhoptilus capitalis), version 1.0". Birds of the World.
  5. ^ Collar, Nigel; Robson, Craig (2020). "Rusty-crowned Babbler (Sterrhoptilus capitalis), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.rucbab3.01species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN 2771-3105.
  6. ^ Allen, Desmond (2020). Birds of the Philippines. Barcelona: Lynx and Birdlife International Field Guides. pp. 296–297.
  7. ^ https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22716207/132110934. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  • Collar, N. J. & Robson, C. 2007. Family Timaliidae (Babblers) pp. 70 – 291 in; del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Christie, D.A. eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 12. Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.