Birds Guide

Babblers
White-naped Yuhina
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia   Phylum: Chordata   Class: Aves   Order: Passeriformes   Family: Timaliidae
Genera
almost 50: see text

The Old World babblers are a large family of mostly Old World passerine birds. They are rather diverse in size and coloration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage. These are birds of tropical areas, with the greatest variety in southeast Asia. There is also a single New World species, the Wrentit, Chamaea fasciata. The timaliids are one of two unrelated groups of birds known as babblers, the other being the Australasian Babblers of the family Pomatostomidae (also known as pseudo-babblers).

These birds have strong legs, and many are quite terrestrial. This group is not strongly migratory, and most species have short rounded wings, and a weak flight.

The species are:

Family: Timaliidae

• Genus Malia
  • Malia, Malia grata
• Genus Garrulax, the laughingthrushes
  • Ashy-headed Laughingthrush, Garrulax cinereifrons
    Sunda Laughingthrush, Garrulax palliatus
    Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush, Garrulax rufifrons
    Masked Laughingthrush, Garrulax perspicillatus
    White-throated Laughingthrush, Garrulax albogularis
    White-crested Laughingthrush, Garrulax leucolophus
    Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush, Garrulax monileger
    Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush, Garrulax pectoralis
    Black Laughingthrush, Garrulax lugubris
    Striated Laughingthrush, Garrulax striatus
    White-necked Laughingthrush, Garrulax strepitans
    Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Garrulax milleti
    Grey Laughingthrush, Garrulax maesi
    Rufous-necked Laughingthrush, Garrulax ruficollis
    Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush, Garrulax nuchalis
    Black-throated Laughingthrush, Garrulax chinensis
    White-cheeked Laughingthrush, Garrulax vassali
    Yellow-throated Laughingthrush, Garrulax galbanus
    Wynaad Laughingthrush, Garrulax delesserti
    Rufous-vented Laughingthrush, Garrulax gularis
    Pere David's Laughingthrush, Garrulax davidi
    Sukatschev's Laughingthrush, Garrulax sukatschewi
    Moustached Laughingthrush, Garrulax cineraceus
    Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush, Garrulax rufogularis
    Spotted Laughingthrush, Garrulax ocellatus
    Barred Laughingthrush, Garrulax lunulatus
    Biet's Laughingthrush, Garrulax bieti
    Giant Laughingthrush, Garrulax maximus
    Grey-sided Laughingthrush, Garrulax caerulatus
    Rusty Laughingthrush, Garrulax poecilorhynchus
    Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush, Garrulax mitratus
    Spot-breasted Laughingthrush, Garrulax merulinus
    Hwamei, Garrulax canorus
    White-browed Laughingthrush, Garrulax sannio
    Rufous-breasted Laughingthrush, Garrulax cachinnans
    Grey-breasted Laughingthrush, Garrulax jerdoni
    Streaked Laughingthrush, Garrulax lineatus
    Striped Laughingthrush, Garrulax virgatus
    Scaly Laughingthrush, Garrulax subunicolor
    Brown-capped Laughingthrush,Garrulax austeni
    Blue-winged Laughingthrush, Garrulax squamatus
    Elliot's Laughingthrush, Garrulax elliotii
    Variegated Laughingthrush, Garrulax variegatus
    Prince Henry's Laughingthrush, Garrulax henrici
    Black-faced Laughingthrush, Garrulax affinis
    White-whiskered Laughingthrush, Garrulax morrisonianus
    Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Garrulax erythrocephalus
    Golden-winged Laughingthrush, Garrulax ngoclinhensis
    Collared Laughingthrush, Garrulax yersini
    Red-winged Laughingthrush, Garrulax formosus
    Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Garrulax milnei
• Genus Liocichla, the liocichlas
  • Grey-faced Liocichla, Liocichla omeiensis
    Steere's Liocichla, Liocichla steerii
    Red-faced Liocichla, Liocichla phoenicea
    Bugun Liocichla, Liocichla bugunorum
• Genus Modulatrix
  • Spot-throat, Modulatrix stictigula
• Genus Arcanator
  • Dapple-throat, Arcanator orostruthus
• Genus Trichastoma
  • White-chested Babbler, Trichastoma rostratum
    Sulawesi Babbler, Trichastoma celebense
    Ferruginous Babbler, Trichastoma bicolor
    Bagobo Babbler, Trichastoma woodi
• Genus Malacocincla
  • Abbott's Babbler, Malacocincla abbotti
    Horsfield's Babbler, Malacocincla sepiarium
    Black-browed Babbler, Malacocincla perspicillata
    Short-tailed Babbler, Malacocincla malaccensis
    Ashy-headed Babbler, Malacocincla cinereiceps
• Genus Pellorneum
  • Brown-capped Babbler, Pellorneum fuscocapillum
    Marsh Babbler, Pellorneum palustre
    Buff-breasted Babbler, Pellorneum tickelli
    Temminck's Babbler, Pellorneum pyrrogenys
    Spot-throated Babbler, Pellorneum albiventre
    Puff-throated Babbler, Pellorneum ruficeps
    Black-capped Babbler, Pellorneum capistratum
• Genus Malacopteron
  • Palawan Babbler, Malacopteron palawanense
    Moustached Babbler, Malacopteron magnirostre
    Sooty-capped Babbler, Malacopteron affine
    Scaly-crowned Babbler, Malacopteron cinereum
    Rufous-crowned Babbler, Malacopteron magnum
    Grey-breasted Babbler, Malacopteron albogulare
• Genus Illadopsis, the illadopsises
  • Blackcap Illadopsis, Illadopsis cleaveri
    Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Illadopsis albipectus
    Rufous-winged Illadopsis, Illadopsis rufescens
    Puvel's Illadopsis, Illadopsis puveli
    Pale-breasted Illadopsis, Illadopsis rufipennis
    Brown Illadopsis, Illadopsis fulvescens
    Mountain Illadopsis, Illadopsis pyrrhoptera
    African Hill Babbler, Illadopsis abyssinica
• Genus Kakamega
  • Grey-chested Illadopsis, Kakamega poliothorax
• Genus Ptyrticus
  • Thrush Babbler, Ptyrticus turdinus
• Genus Pomatorhinus, scimitar babblers
  • Large Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus hypoleucos
    Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus erythrocnemis
    Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus erythrogenys
    Indian Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus horsfieldii
    White-browed Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus schisticeps
    Chestnut-backed Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus montanus
    Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus ruficollis
    Red-billed Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps
    Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus ferruginosus
• Genus Xiphirhynchus, scimitar-babblers
  • Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Xiphirhynchus superciliaris
• Genus Jabouilleia, scimitar-babblers
  • Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler, Jabouilleia danjoui
• Genus Rimator, wren-babblers
  • Long-billed Wren-babbler, Rimator malacoptilus
• Genus Ptilocichla, wren-babblers
  • Bornean Wren-babbler, Ptilocichla leucogrammica
    Striated Wren-babbler, Ptilocichla mindanensis
    Falcated Wren-babbler, Ptilocichla falcata
• Genus Kenopia, wren-babblers
  • Striped Wren-babbler, Kenopia striata
• Genus Napothera, wren-babblers
  • Large Wren-babbler, Napothera macrodactyla
    Rusty-breasted Wren-babbler, Napothera rufipectus
    Black-throated Wren-babbler, Napothera atrigularis
    Marbled Wren-babbler, Napothera marmorata
    Limestone Wren-babbler, Napothera crispifrons
    Streaked Wren-babbler, Napothera brevicaudata
    Mountain Wren-babbler, Napothera crassa
    Luzon Wren-babbler, Napothera rabori
    Eyebrowed Wren-babbler, Napothera epilepidota
• Genus Pnoepyga, wren-babblers
  • Scaly-breasted Wren-babbler, Pnoepyga albiventer
    Immaculate Wren-babbler, Pnoepyga immaculata
    Pygmy Wren-babbler, Pnoepyga pusilla
• Genus Spelaeornis, wren-babblers
  • Rufous-throated Wren-babbler, Spelaeornis caudatus
    Mishmi Wren-babbler, Spelaeornis badeigularis
    Bar-winged Wren-babbler, Spelaeornis troglodytoides
    Spotted Wren-babbler, Spelaeornis formosus
    Long-tailed Wren-babbler, Spelaeornis chocolatinus
    Tawny-breasted Wren-babbler, Spelaeornis longicaudatus
    Wedge-billed Wren-babbler, Sphenocichla humei
• Genus Neomixis, jerys
  • Common Jery, Neomixis tenella
    Green Jery, Neomixis viridis
    Stripe-throated Jery, Neomixis striatigula
• Genus Hartertula
  • Wedge-tailed Jery, Hartertula flavoviridis
• Genus Stachyris
  • Deignan's Babbler, Stachyris rodolphei
    Buff-chested Babbler, Stachyris ambigua
    Rufous-fronted Babbler, Stachyris rufifrons
    Rufous-capped Babbler, Stachyris ruficeps
    Black-chinned Babbler, Stachyris pyrrhops
    Golden Babbler, Stachyris chrysaea
    Pygmy Babbler, Stachyris plateni
    Golden-crowned Babbler, Stachyris dennistouni
    Black-crowned Babbler, Stachyris nigrocapitata
    Rusty-crowned Babbler, Stachyris capitalis
    Flame-templed Babbler, Stachyris speciosa
    Chestnut-faced Babbler, Stachyris whiteheadi
    Luzon Striped Babbler, Stachyris striata
    Panay Striped Babbler, Stachyris latistriata
    Negros Striped Babbler, Stachyris nigrorum
    Palawan Striped Babbler, Stachyris hypogrammica
    White-breasted Babbler, Stachyris grammiceps
    Sooty Babbler, Stachyris herberti
    Grey-throated Babbler, Stachyris nigriceps
    Grey-headed Babbler, Stachyris poliocephala
    Snowy-throated Babbler, Stachyris oglei
    Spot-necked Babbler, Stachyris striolata
    White-necked Babbler, Stachyris leucotis
    Black-throated Babbler, Stachyris nigricollis
    White-bibbed Babbler, Stachyris thoracica
    Chestnut-rumped Babbler, Stachyris maculata
    Chestnut-winged Babbler, Stachyris erythroptera
    Crescent-chested Babbler, Stachyris melanothorax
• Genus Dumetia
  • Tawny-bellied Babbler, Dumetia hyperythra
• Genus Rhopocichla
  • Dark-fronted Babbler, Rhopocichla atriceps
• Genus Macronous, tit-babblers
  • Striped Tit-babbler, Macronous gularis
    Grey-cheeked Tit-babbler, Macronous flavicollis
    Grey-faced Tit-babbler, Macronous kelleyi
    Brown Tit-babbler, Macronous striaticeps
    Fluffy-backed Tit-babbler, Macronous ptilosus
    Miniature Tit-babbler, Micromacronus leytensis
• Genus Timalia
  • Chestnut-capped Babbler, Timalia pileata
• Genus Chrysomma
  • Yellow-eyed Babbler, Chrysomma sinense
    Jerdon's Babbler, Chrysomma altirostre
    Rufous-tailed Babbler, Chrysomma poecilotis
• Genus Turdoides
  • Spiny Babbler, Turdoides nipalensis
    Iraq Babbler, Turdoides altirostris
    Common Babbler, Turdoides caudatus
    Striated Babbler, Turdoides earlei
    White-throated Babbler, Turdoides gularis
    Slender-billed Babbler, Turdoides longirostris
    Large Grey Babbler, Turdoides malcolmi
    Arabian Babbler, Turdoides squamiceps
    Fulvous Chatterer, Turdoides fulvus
    Scaly Chatterer, Turdoides aylmeri
    Rufous Chatterer, Turdoides rubiginosus
    Rufous Babbler, Turdoides subrufus
    Jungle Babbler, Turdoides striatus
    Orange-billed Babbler, Turdoides rufescens
    Yellow-billed Babbler, Turdoides affinis
    Blackcap Babbler, Turdoides reinwardtii
    Dusky Babbler, Turdoides tenebrosus
    Black-lored Babbler, Turdoides melanops
    Scaly Babbler, Turdoides squamulatus
    White-rumped Babbler, Turdoides leucopygius
    Southern Pied Babbler, Turdoides bicolor
    Northern Pied Babbler, Turdoides hypoleucus
    Hinde's Pied Babbler, Turdoides hindei
    Cretzschmar's Babbler, Turdoides leucocephalus
    Brown Babbler, Turdoides plebejus
    Arrow-marked Babbler, Turdoides jardineii
    Bare-cheeked Babbler, Turdoides gymnogenys
• Genus Babax, the babaxes
  • Chinese Babax, Babax lanceolatus
    Giant Babax, Babax waddelli
    Tibetan Babax, Babax koslowi
• Genus Leiothrix
  • Silver-eared Mesia, Leiothrix argentauris
    Red-billed Leiothrix, Leiothrix lutea
• Genus Cutia
  • Cutia, Cutia nipalensis
• Genus Pteruthius, shrike-babblers
  • Black-headed Shrike-babbler, Pteruthius rufiventer
    White-browed Shrike-babbler, Pteruthius flaviscapis
    Green Shrike-babbler, Pteruthius xanthochlorus
    Black-eared Shrike-babbler, Pteruthius melanotis
    Chestnut-fronted Shrike-babbler, Pteruthius aenobarbus
• Genus Gampsorhynchus
  • White-hooded Babbler, Gampsorhynchus rufulus
• Genus Actinodura, the barwings
  • Rusty-fronted Barwing, Actinodura egertoni
    Spectacled Barwing, Actinodura ramsayi
    Black-crowned Barwing, Actinodura sodangorum
    Hoary-throated Barwing, Actinodura nipalensis
    Streak-throated Barwing, Actinodura waldeni
    Streaked Barwing, Actinodura souliei
    Taiwan Barwing, Actinodura morrisoniana
• Genus Minla, the minlas
  • Blue-winged Minla, Minla cyanouroptera
    Chestnut-tailed Minla, Minla strigula
    Red-tailed Minla, Minla ignotincta
• Genus Alcippe, the fulvettas
  • Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Alcippe chrysotis
    Gold-fronted Fulvetta, Alcippe variegaticeps
    Yellow-throated Fulvetta, Alcippe cinerea
    Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Alcippe castaneceps
    White-browed Fulvetta, Alcippe vinipectus
    Chinese Fulvetta, Alcippe striaticollis
    Spectacled Fulvetta, Alcippe ruficapilla
    Streak-throated Fulvetta, Alcippe cinereiceps
    Ludlow's Fulvetta, Alcippe ludlowi
    Rufous-throated Fulvetta, Alcippe rufogularis
    Dusky Fulvetta, Alcippe brunnea
    Rusty-capped Fulvetta, Alcippe dubia
    Brown Fulvetta, Alcippe brunneicauda
    Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, Alcippe poioicephala
    Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, Alcippe morrisonia
    Javan Fulvetta, Alcippe pyrrhoptera
    Mountain Fulvetta, Alcippe peracensis
    Nepal Fulvetta, Alcippe nipalensis
• Genus Lioptilus
  • Bush Blackcap, Lioptilus nigricapillus
• Genus Kupeornis, the mountain-babblers
  • White-throated Mountain Babbler, Kupeornis gilberti
    Red-collared Mountain Babbler, Kupeornis rufocinctus
    Chapin's Mountain Babbler, Kupeornis chapini
• Genus Parophasma
  • Abyssinian Catbird, Parophasma galinieri
• Genus Phyllanthus
  • Capuchin Babbler, Phyllanthus atripennis
• Genus Crocias, the crociass
  • Grey-crowned Crocias, Crocias langbianis
    Spotted Crocias, Crocias albonotatus
• Genus Heterophasia, the sibias
  • Rufous-backed Sibia, Heterophasia annectens
    Rufous Sibia, Heterophasia capistrata
    Grey Sibia, Heterophasia gracilis
    Black-backed Sibia, Heterophasia melanoleuca
    Black-headed Sibia, Heterophasia desgodinsi
    White-eared Sibia, Heterophasia auricularis
    Beautiful Sibia, Heterophasia pulchella
    Long-tailed Sibia, Heterophasia picaoides
• Genus Yuhina, the yuhinas
  • Striated Yuhina, Yuhina castaniceps
    Chestnut-crested Yuhina, Yuhina everetti
    White-naped Yuhina, Yuhina bakeri
    Whiskered Yuhina, Yuhina flavicollis
    Burmese Yuhina, Yuhina humilis
    Stripe-throated Yuhina, Yuhina gularis
    White-collared Yuhina, Yuhina diademata
    Rufous-vented Yuhina, Yuhina occipitalis
    Taiwan Yuhina, Yuhina brunneiceps
    Black-chinned Yuhina, Yuhina nigrimenta
    White-bellied Yuhina, Yuhina zantholeuca
• Genus Myzornis
  • Fire-tailed Myzornis, Myzornis pyrrhoura
• Genus Oxylabes
  • White-throated Oxylabes, Oxylabes madagascariensis
• Genus Crossleyia
  • Yellow-browed Oxylabes, Crossleyia xanthophrys
• Genus Chamaea
  • Wrentit, Chamaea fasciata

The genus Mystacornis is now classified as a vanga.

External links

• Babbler videos on the Internet Bird Collection