Ceylon Scimitar Babbler

Description:

This very attractive and slenderly built babbler has a long yellow down-curved bill, long white eyebrow extending onto nape and black eye-stripe. Upperparts are rusty brown with a dark brown crown, white under parts with brown flanks, vent and undertail coverts. Sexes alike. This bird is found in forests almost everywhere, low country and hill country alike. However it is not confined to forests, if sufficient cover is available it will take up residence in estates and well-wooded gardens. Lives in pairs or family parties.

Habitat:

Deciduous to evergreen forest, cardamon shoals, bamboo, tick cover. Locally up to 2400m.These Babblers associate either in pairs or small flocks, haunting any class of thick cover and working both the ground, bushes and the lower branches of trees for food

Notes:

Feeds on insects, grubs and spiders. Takes also flower nectar and berries. Seen in pairs during breeding season, in small groups the rest of the year. Often together with other species. Forages on the ground or in dense undergrowth. Breeding season from December to February in Sri Lanka. The nest is a loose, large domr with an entrance on the upper side. It's placed in a bush or on the ground, concealed in dense masses of foliage. Lays 2 to 5 eggs.