Indian Scimitar Babbler

The Indian scimitar babbler, Pomatorhinus horsfieldii, is a bird of remarkable poise, adorned with a long, down-curved yellow bill reminiscent of a scimitar, from which it derives its name. This 22 cm long avian exhibits a striking head pattern with a pronounced white supercilium arching over a broad black band through the eye. Its plumage is a study in contrast, with a white throat and breast set against the dark greyish-brown of its upperside and the dark grey to black of most of its underside. The tail is broad, long, and graduated, while the wings are short and round, making this species a rather weak flier, seldom seen in open flight.

Identification Tips

To identify the Indian scimitar babbler, look for the distinctive long yellow bill with a blackish base on the upper mandible. The white supercilium and contrasting dark bands through the eye are key markers, as is the white underpart contrasting with the darker shades of the upper body. The bird's preference for dense vegetation often makes visual identification challenging, but its unique morphology is unmistakable when seen.

Habitat

The Indian scimitar babbler thrives in forested areas and secondary growth, predominantly in hilly regions. It is adept at navigating through dense undergrowth where it spends much of its time.

Distribution

This species is endemic to peninsular India, where it is the sole representative of the scimitar babblers. Its range extends south of a line between Rajasthan and Orissa.

Behaviour

The Indian scimitar babbler is a non-migratory bird that exhibits a strong preference for foraging on the ground or among vegetation. It is known for its hopping movements as it turns over leaves or probes the leaf litter in search of insects. Occasionally, it may join mixed-species foraging flocks. The breeding season spans from December to May, during which they construct large, globular nests concealed in bushes close to the ground, laying two to four pure white eggs.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire of the Indian scimitar babbler includes a distinctive bubbling call, a loud fluty "oop-pu-pu-pu" followed by a "krukru," the latter produced by the female. These calls are often performed in an antiphonal duet, perfectly synchronized between the pair.

Similar Species

The Indian scimitar babbler was once considered a subspecies of the white-browed scimitar babbler found along the Himalayas. It is also closely related to the Sri Lanka scimitar babbler, which was previously treated as a subspecies but is now recognized as a separate species due to geographic isolation and distinctive calls.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Indian scimitar babbler primarily consists of insects and berries. Its curved bill is specially adapted to sift through leaf litter and bark in search of food.

Conservation status

The Indian scimitar babbler is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it currently faces no significant threats to its survival.