Rusty-fronted Barwing Actinodura egertoni Scientific name definitions

21·5–23·5 cm; 31–42 g. Long-tailed, unstreaked barwing with brownish-grey head and crest and chestnut forehead, face and chin. Nominate race  has lores, upper malar area, anterior cheek, forehead  and forecrown dull chestnut, shading to brown-edged smoky-grey elongate feathers on central crown  to hindcrown; nape and neck  side smudgy mid-grey, shading to ochrous-brown on upperparts; greater coverts rufous, primary coverts blackish, rest of upperwing  rufous-chestnut to buffish basally with dense black-and-whitish barring distally; tail plain dull rufous-chestnut centrally, with closely but weakly dark-barred outer feathers, all with whitish tips; ear-coverts slightly shiny pale grey with slight pinkish tinge; chin and throat dull chestnut-rufous with vague greyish streaking, shading to rufous-tinged pale pinkish-grey on breast  and stronger rufous on flanks, thighs and vent, belly whitish; iris pale grey, bluish-brown, olive-yellow or brown, orbital skin grey-green; bill yellowish-brown, paler lower mandible; legs brownish-flesh to grey-brown or pale horn. Sexes similar. Juvenile has crown and nape washed warm brown. Race lewisi is less rufescent above than nominate; khasiana is altogether paler, more olive-tinged above, buffier below, with more rufous-tan in wings; <em>ripponi</em> is very like last, but crown greyer and with less chestnut.

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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.

Dense undergrowth, scrub-jungle, forest edge, shrubbery and scrub in warm broadleaf evergreen forest and secondary growth, bamboo. Breeds at 600–2600 m, mainly 1200–2400 m, perhaps lower locally in India (E Arunachal Pradesh, 300 m) and N Myanmar (215 m).

Resident. Movements to lower elevations during harsh winter weather reported, but none clearly documented.

Insects, including grasshoppers (Orthopterra) and ants (Formicidae); also berries, including those of wild strawberries (Fragaria), figs (Ficus), and seeds, including those of “laurel”. Found in pairs during breeding season; otherwise typically in small monospecific parties of 6–12 individuals, sometimes larger bands of up to 45 birds, but moving within well-defined home range. Often associates with bird waves, particularly with other babblers such as laughingthrushes and sibias. Forages in middle storey of forest, occasionally in canopy, among tree-orchids and epiphytes, and among dense scrub, bushes , brambles etc. along forest edge.

Song of nominate race  described as a rapid, sweet, clear sequence of short piping, crystal-clear whistles, final note distinctly lower, and strophe decelerating, “(tsit-tsit-) tsit-tsít-séét-sééétsúút”, repeated every few seconds, also similar version with series rising slightly in pitch before dropping greatly to final low note; race ripponi utters more warbled version with a few short notes dropping in pitch, and then repeated without pause, e.g. “ti-wi-wi-wu ti-wi-wi-wu”, also as “titu-titu-tíyú titu-titu-tíyú”; khasiana song similar but notes said to be chippier and less modulated. Calls include excited, metallic, high-pitched rattles creating a wall of sound, and varying somewhat in pitch and tempo; also, lower-pitched, more irregular, harsh and buzzy versions, “grrit”, “grrrrrrit” and “gwah” notes, and lower, harsh, buzzing, downslurred “gursh-gursh…”, “gur”, also “geersh” notes; occasionally a quick series, “gur-geer-geer-gursh”.

Apr–Jul. Nest described as a largish, rather deep cup, made of fern, bamboo or other dead leaves, grasses, fibrous roots and green moss, lined with rootlets, fine moss roots and fine grasses, placed 1–7·5 m above ground in bamboo clump, bush or sapling. Clutch 2–4 eggs (usually 3 in India, and 2–3 in Myanmar), blue or pale blue-green with blackish and/or dark brown to rich reddish-brown blotches, spots and whorls over pale lilac-grey or purplish undermarkings. No other information.

Not globally threatened. In C Nepal rare and local, becoming slowly commoner to E of range in Himalayas. Frequent in Bhutan but less common in W; near Zhemgang, density of 1·6 territories/km of road at 1900 m; present in Thrumshingla National Park. Locally fairly common in India, where present in Buxa Tiger Reserve (West Bengal) and in and/or near Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and common in Namdapha National Park (Arunachal Pradesh). One 19th-century specimen from Bangladesh, but no other records from that country. Common in Myanmar, but uncommon in Natmautaung National Park. Uncommon in China.