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Birds

Dark-fronted
Babbler

Least Concern

Decreasing

Dark-fronted Babbler

Dumetia atriceps

The dark-fronted babblers are small chestnut brown birds with a dark black cap, a whitish underside and pale yellow iris. They forage in flocks in the undergrowth of forests constantly making calls and uttering alarm calls when disturbed.

These babblers have a weak flight and are residents within their range. The forage in parties and clamber up vegetation and when disturbed, they tend to drop from the topmost perches of the bush into the undergrowth. The typical habitat is undergrowth in forest or on the edge of forests in more open growth. Their food is mainly insects. They can be difficult to observe in the dense vegetation they prefer, but like other babblers, these are noisy birds, and their characteristic rattling churr alarm calls are often the best indication that these birds are present.

Black-headed Babbler

Regional Names
  • Kannada:
    ಕರಿತಲೆ ಹರಟೆಮಲ್ಲ
  • Malayalam:
    പൊടി ചിലപ്പൻ
  • Marathi:
    काळ्या डोक्याचा सातभाई
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Taxanomy

PASSERIFORMES
TIMALIIDAE
Dumetia atriceps

Quick Facts
  • They can be difficult to observe in the dense vegetation they prefer, but like other babblers, these are noisy birds.
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