Black-streaked Scimitar-Babbler Erythrogenys gravivox Scientific name definitions

21–25 cm; 46–79 g. Smallish to medium-sized scimitar-babbler, olive-brown above and white below , with rufous-tan ear-coverts, flanks and vent, and bold black streaking on breast. Nominate race has forehead and supercilium rusty rufous, crown and upperparts, including upperwing and tail, grey-washed olive-brown; lores greyish-white, ear-coverts dull rusty tan, submoustachial stripe whitish with blackish flecking, malar line blackish, very broad and relatively short, neck side to flanks buffy tan with greyish fringes; chin to belly white, breast with neatly aligned long blackish streaks, vent rufous-tan; iris chestnut-red to brownish-grey, pale yellow or creamy white; bill grey, lower mandible sometimes yellowish or greenish basally; legs vary from leaden or flesh-brown to yellowish-green and reddish-yellow. Sexes similar. Juvenile is washed rufous-tan below, with very faint or no spotting on breast. Race odica is less grey, more olive, above than nominate, no rufous supercilium, mostly rufous submoustachial, richer rufous ear-coverts, richer and more extensive rufous on breast side and flanks, shorter and slightly sparser breast streaks; decarlei is very like previous, but slightly more olive-tinged above, rufous areas slightly duller; <em>dedekensi</em> is like last but a shade colder and greyer above, with slightly weaker, greyer breast streaks; cowensae is like nominate but browner above, forehead more chestnut, ear-coverts more rufous, breast streaks blacker and more extensive, flanks dark cinnamon with olive suffusion.

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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.

Open forest, forest edge, scrub-jungle, secondary growth in clearings, thickets, dry scrub, lalang grass, abandoned cultivation, bamboo; at 1220–2600 m in SE Asia, but 200–3700 m in China and 3260–3800 m in summer in Tibet.

Evidently very similar to that of others in species complex, but no evidence yet of duet. In China , “whi-whulp” or “whi-wru” from single bird in SE Tibet, and husky quick “whi-wip” recorded in N Sichuan; rapid-fire “whi’chu” or “whi’tu” from single bird in N Vietnam. Alarm calls “whoi-t’t’t’t’t’t”, “whoip-tut’ut’ut’ut’ut’ut” or “whup-which’ch’ch’ch’ch’ch”.