Spotted Jewel-babbler Ptilorrhoa leucosticta Scientific name definitions

20 cm; 49–51 g. Nominate race has crown and nape dark chestnut, lores and chin  black; narrow black stripe down centre of throat, broadening on upper breast into triangular black patch finely spotted with white; side of throat and neck side below eye white; upperparts dull olive-green, remiges dark brownish-olive, primary coverts dull olive-green; median and greater upperwing-coverts black, tipped white (forming double row of rounded white spots on folded wing); tail olive-brown, outer two feather pairs black with broad white tips; underparts dull ashy blue; iris dark brown; bill black; legs brown to light brown. Sexes alike. Juvenile is brown, washed with rufous-olive, paler on underparts, has upperwing-coverts tipped pale rufous. Race mayri is similar to nominate, but back chestnut, and spotting on upper breast reduced; centralis is like previous, but breast greenish-olive; amabilis resembles nominate, but underparts mostly blue; loriae lacks spots on black upper breast, has breast and flanks dull greenish, belly blue; sibilans is similar to last, but crown brighter chestnut and breast with distinct olive-green band; menawa is also similar, but underparts extensively washed olive, covering most of breast and flanks, crown sometimes darker, back brighter.

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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.

Song a level series of 7–30 short, low, bell-like whistles . Alarm call a squeaky rasping and high-pitched note followed by hissing; other calls include faint “tsip” and single or several rather explosive notes.