Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps
The Red-billed Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps) is a strikingly marked passerine bird belonging to the Old World babbler family, Timaliidae. This medium-sized babbler, typically measuring 18-19 cm (7-7.5 inches) in length, is instantly recognizable by its vivid coral-red, downward-curving scimitar-like bill, which gives the genus its common name. Its plumage features a rich rufous-chestnut crown and nape, contrasting with a prominent whitish supercilium that extends from the bill ...
Found primarily in subtropical and tropical moist montane forests, preferring dense undergrowth, bamboo thickets, and secondary growth at elevations typically ranging from 900 to 2,000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide range of invertebrates including insects, their larvae, and spiders, which they glean and probe from dense undergrowth and leaf litter.
Red-billed Scimitar Babblers are diurnal and generally secretive, often foraging in the dense understory where they are more often heard than seen. They exhibit a characteristic foraging strategy, using their long, decurved bill to probe crevices, leaf litter, and bark for invertebrates, often fl...
The Red-billed Scimitar Babbler is resident across a broad swathe of Southeast Asia and parts of southern China. Its distribution includes northeastern India (Assam, Nagaland), Myanmar, northern Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and southern China (Yunnan, Guangxi). Specific populations, often represented...
Least Concern
- The Red-billed Scimitar Babbler's genus name, *Pomatorhinus*, translates to 'lid-nosed', referring to a small operculum covering its nostrils, though this feature is subtle. - Its iconic scimitar-shaped bill is a specialized tool, perfectly adapted for probing into tight spaces and turning over...