Photo: Sai Adikarla / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Indian Scimitar Babbler
Pomatorhinus horsfieldii
Indian Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus horsfieldii) — 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 Indian Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus horsfieldii) is a member of the Timaliidae 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 Timaliidae Babblers, Scimitar Babblers
- Genus Pomatorhinus
- Species horsfieldii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 43 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 Indian Scimitar Babbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Indian Scimitar Babbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Indian Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus horsfieldii) belongs to the Timaliidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR India.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 43 g, with a wing length of about 9.5 cm and a tail of around 10 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Indian Scimitar Babbler?
The Indian Scimitar Babbler is a small bird that weighs around 43 g.
Where does the Indian Scimitar Babbler live?
The Indian Scimitar Babbler is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR India, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Indian Scimitar Babbler belong to?
The Indian Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus horsfieldii) belongs to the Timaliidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Indian Scimitar Babbler eat?
The Indian Scimitar Babbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Indian Scimitar Babbler migrate?
The Indian Scimitar Babbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Indian Scimitar 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 Indian Scimitar Babbler make?
1 real field recording of the Indian Scimitar Babbler — including its duet — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Indian Scimitar Babbler's range?
The Indian Scimitar Babbler has a mapped global range of about 1 million 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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