Rusty-Cheeked Scimitar-Babbler

Description:

Length 11 inches. Sexes alike. Upper plumage, tail, and the exposed part of the closed wings olive-brown; centre of whole lower plumage white, striped with very pale grey on the chin and throat; forehead, sides of head and neck and sides of lower plumage chestnut, washed with olive on the sides of the breast and flanks. Iris yellowish-white ; bill light horny ; legs brownish-fleshy. Bill long, curved, and compressed, recalling a scimitar in shape. Tail long and graduated; wings small and rounded ; general build rather ungainly.

Habitat:

Seen at 4000 feet ASL.

Notes:

This bird is a dweller in dense undergrowth, whether in the form of thick grass and bushes on treeless hill-sides, or forests with heavy secondary growth. The greater part of its life is spent in the bushes, but it feeds a good deal on the ground under cover, shuffling amongst dead leaves, and when disturbed in this occupation it can make off at a good speed with a succession of long, bounding hops like a rat. This species is said to indulge in a habit of dancing like other members of the genus.