Mindanao Pygmy-Babbler Dasycrotapha plateni Scientific name definitions

10 cm; 7.5–10 g. Tiny babbler, mid-brown above and greyish-whitish below, with striking white-streaked dark head, throat and breast. Forehead is almost black, crown and ear-coverts dull chestnut, all with bold white shaft streaks; upperparts rust-tinged brown with obscure pale shaft streaks, upper­wing and tail mid-brown; chin, throat and upper breast rich chestnut-brown with bold clean white shaft streaks, heaviest on chin; lower breast to undertail-coverts pale grey, flanks rusty buff; iris whitish or very pale grey; bill slate-blue; legs blackish. Sexes similar. Juvenile apparently undescribed.

Mindanao, in S Philippines.

Primary and secondary forest, forest edge and second growth, low fruiting trees in abandoned cultivation, and occasionally fruiting trees in cultivated areas near forest; at 100–1100 m.

Resident.

Insects, some small fruits. Found in pairs or small parties, often in company with other species, including other babblers, in mixed flocks. More active and mobile than other members of genus. Forages in middle storey 3–6 m up, occasionally ascending to 12 m in lower canopy. Sometimes hangs upside-down when feeding; occasionally sallies for insects.

Birds in breeding condition in Mar–May. Nest materials include white fluffy (seed) matter. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. When treated as conspecific with D. pygmaea, considered Near-threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Mindanao EBA. Apparently uncommon to rare throughout range, as forest at lower elevations being extensively destroyed. Recorded from some sites (Apo, Kitanglad) which are now established as national parks, but not known if current extent of forest there secures any population.