Striated Babbler Argya earlei Scientific name definitions

24–25 cm; 46–48 g. Long-tailed, fairly large Argya babbler, nondescript in shades of pale brown and buff with heavy streaking above, lighter below. Nominate race has crown and upperparts pale greyish-brown with dark brown streaks, streaks clustered and neat on crown, becoming vaguer and broader on lower upperparts; upperwing and tail pale greyish-brown, latter with faint close barring; lores, ear-coverts and submous­tachial area plain pinkish-tinged grey-brown (submoustachial area slightly paler basally, creating short pale stripe); chin and throat similar, but with short brown shaft streaks extending to more yellowish-buff breast and upper flanks, lower underparts plain pale yellowish-buff; iris yellow; bill flesh-yellow, culmen and tip darker horn; legs plumbeous to greyish-flesh. Sexes similar. Juvenile is paler than adult, less distinctly streaked above, uniform buff below, with slightly darker chin to upper breast. Race sonivia is paler generally than nominate, with streaking on upperparts weaker, dark centres of throat feathers less extensive, bill smaller.

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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.