Papuan Babbler Garritornis isidorei Scientific name definitions

25 cm; 30–47 g. Medium-sized pomatostomid with mainly rufous plumage, broad tail and yellowish bill. Has top of head, upperparts and upperwing olive-brown to rufous-brown, tail rich rufous; chin, throat, ear coverts and upper breast orange-buff, paler than rest of plumage (and forming diffuse pale facial mask), grading to darker rufous on lower breast, flanks, belly and undertail coverts; underwing coverts and axillaries rufous-brown; iris light brown or dull yellow; bill orange-yellow, dusky base to upper mandible; legs dark grey. Sexes similar. Juvenile is poorly described, similar to adult but iris darker brown, crown more olive (less rufous); immature probably difficult to distinguish from adult, but iris said to be dark brown and tone of upperparts shows patchy variation. Racial differences slight.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Monsoon forest, rainforest, more mature secondary growth and lowland gallery forest; forages also in disturbed habitats and teak (Tectona) plantations. Foothills to at least 300 m, probably to c. 500 m.

Poorly known. Probably mainly insects, including crickets (Orthoptera), beetles (Coleoptera) and termites (of family Termitidae); some spiders (Araneae) and small reptiles also taken. Larger prey held down with one foot and eaten in pieces. Forages mainly in low undergrowth, sometimes on the ground or in lower canopy of forest; typically moves upwards through tree. Gleans and probes with bill through leaf litter, in crevices and in masses of dead leaves under branches. Known to drink water in dry weather conditions. Typically forages in groups of 4–10 birds, sometimes in mixed-species flocks with Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus) and Rusty Pitohui (Pseudorectes ferrugineus).

Low, hoarse, descending slurred “work” or “whaak” in contact; also repeated “phew” whistle as contact, said to resemble call of Rusty Pitohui (Pseudorectes ferrugineus) and possibly mimicry of that species; when excited, groups give loud, deep, rolling “whu whu whui”; loud “hu-wick” or “who who whi wick” when alarmed and just before flying away.

Recorded in wet season and middle of dry season. Little information on breeding system, but co-operative breeding recorded; probably one pair sexually active, and assisted in nest-building and brood-feeding by helpers. Nest an untidy large flask-shaped pendent structure 1–2 m long, roofed porch at side entrance, internal chamber c. 30 cm wide, and with dangling “tail” c. 50 cm long; comprises long dried stems of creepers and vines and dried fibres, lined with strips of Pandanus and other palms and with bamboo leaves; typically placed in vertical vine or creeper, often lawyer-vine (Calamus), and hanging 3–9 m above ground in forest clearing; often several nests within a few metres of each other. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Fairly common. Apparently absent from some areas where habitat suitable, but this possibly due to oversight. Population density estimated at 1.6 birds/ha; home ranges of groups estimated at 4 ha in size.