Tawny-bellied babbler

Dumetia hyperythra

The tawny-bellied babbler also known in older Indian works as the rufous-bellied babbler is a small babbler that forages in groups in low scrub forests. Like other members of the large Old World babbler family they are passerine birds characterised by soft fluffy plumage. Found in small groups that skulk inside scrub, three subspecies are recognized in South Asia. The nominate ''hyperythra'' and ''albogularis'' found in India and ''phillipsi'' of Sri Lanka
Tawny-bellied babbler (Dumetia hyperythra) Udawalawe, Sri Lanka. Jan 24, 2015. Dumetia hyperythra,Geotagged,Sri Lanka,Tawny-bellied babbler,Winter

Appearance

The tawny-bellied babbler is a small babbler at 13 cm including its long tail. It is dark brown above and orange-buff below, with a rufous grey crown. The feathers on the forehead are stiff and the tail has cross rays and is otherwise olive brown. The throat is white in the populations of peninsular India and Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan population however has a larger beak and paler underparts.

Distribution

The babbler is a resident breeding bird in India, Sri Lanka and southwest Nepal. Its habitat is scrub and tall grassland.

Behavior

The babbler builds its nest in a bush, concealed in dense masses of foliage. The normal clutch is three or four eggs. Like most babblers, it is not migratory, and has short rounded wings and a weak flight. It feeds mainly on insects and nectar.The vocalisation patterns are distinct among the subspecies

Habitat

The babbler is a resident breeding bird in India, Sri Lanka and southwest Nepal. Its habitat is scrub and tall grassland.

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Status: Least concern
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyTimaliidae
GenusDumetia
SpeciesD. hyperythra
Photographed in
Sri Lanka