Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-headed Shrike-babbler
Pteruthius rufiventer
Black-headed Shrike-babbler (Pteruthius rufiventer) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-headed Shrike-babbler (Pteruthius rufiventer) is a member of the Vireonidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 43 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Vireonidae Vireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblers
- Genus Pteruthius
- Species rufiventer
Where it lives
Himalayas to northern Myanmar, southern China and northwestern Vietnam
Quick facts
- Weight
- 43 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Vireonidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-headed Shrike-babbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-headed Shrike-babbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-headed Shrike-babbler (Pteruthius rufiventer) is a species of bird in the Vireonidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Himalayas to n Myanmar, s China and nw Vietnam.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 43 g, with a wing length of about 8.9 cm and a tail of around 8.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 251,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-headed Shrike-babbler?
The Black-headed Shrike-babbler is a small bird that weighs around 43 g.
Where does the Black-headed Shrike-babbler live?
The Black-headed Shrike-babbler is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Himalayas to n Myanmar, s China and nw Vietnam, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-headed Shrike-babbler belong to?
The Black-headed Shrike-babbler (Pteruthius rufiventer) belongs to the Vireonidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-headed Shrike-babbler eat?
The Black-headed Shrike-babbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-headed Shrike-babbler migrate?
The Black-headed Shrike-babbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-headed Shrike-babbler endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-headed Shrike-babbler make?
1 real field recording of the Black-headed Shrike-babbler — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-headed Shrike-babbler's range?
The Black-headed Shrike-babbler has a mapped global range of about 251,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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