Photo: Prajwalkm / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Dark-fronted Babbler
Dumetia atriceps
Dark-fronted Babbler (Dumetia atriceps) — 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 Dark-fronted Babbler (Dumetia atriceps) is a member of the Timaliidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 16.3 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 Timaliidae Babblers, Scimitar Babblers
- Genus Dumetia
- Species atriceps
Quick facts
- Weight
- 16.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Timaliidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Dark-fronted Babbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense scrub and shrubland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Dark-fronted Babbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Dark-fronted Babbler (Dumetia atriceps) belongs to the Timaliidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR w India to Sri Lanka.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 16.3 g, with a wing length of about 5.9 cm and a tail of around 4.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Dark-fronted Babbler?
The Dark-fronted Babbler is a small bird that weighs around 16.3 g.
Where does the Dark-fronted Babbler live?
The Dark-fronted Babbler is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR w India to Sri Lanka, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Dark-fronted Babbler belong to?
The Dark-fronted Babbler (Dumetia atriceps) belongs to the Timaliidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Dark-fronted Babbler eat?
The Dark-fronted Babbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Dark-fronted Babbler migrate?
The Dark-fronted Babbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Dark-fronted 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 Dark-fronted Babbler make?
1 real field recording of the Dark-fronted Babbler — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
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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Guides for this bird
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