The Annam limestone babbler, also known as the khướu đá hoa in Vietnamese, is a species of bird in the family Pellorneidae. It is native to the limestone hills of northern Indochina. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the variable limestone babbler but a 2020 study recovered it as a distinct species.
Region
Annamite Range (central Vietnam and adjacent Laos)
Typical Environment
Occurs patchily on karst outcrops and limestone hills in central Vietnam and nearby parts of Laos. It frequents evergreen and semi-evergreen forest growing on limestone, bamboo thickets, and dense undergrowth along rocky ravines. Birds often keep close to cliff bases, cave mouths, and boulder fields where crevices provide cover. The species is highly localized, tracking the distribution of suitable karst blocks and surrounding forest.
Altitude Range
50–900 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called khướu đá hoa in Vietnamese, this babbler is tightly tied to karst limestone habitats and often stays close to cliffs, caves, and rocky gullies. It was split from the variable limestone babbler in 2020 based on vocal, genetic, and subtle plumage differences. Its patchy distribution and dependence on limestone make it sensitive to quarrying and habitat disturbance.
Temperament
skulking, secretive and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low fluttering flights between cover
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups, moving close to the ground through dense vegetation and among rocks. Nests are often concealed in crevices or ledges within limestone outcrops, with both adults involved in parental care. Pairs maintain small territories and may duet to advertise ownership.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of clear, ringing whistles delivered in repeated phrases, sometimes accelerating or rising slightly in pitch. Contact notes are sharp ticks and chatters from within cover. Pairs may engage in antiphonal duets.
Plumage
Warm brown upperparts with darker mottling; underparts buffy to grey with bold, dark scalloped scaling. The throat is paler, and the tail is rufous-brown with a rounded tip. The face shows fine feathering with a faint pale supercilium.
Diet
Primarily hunts small invertebrates such as ants, beetles, orthopterans, spiders, and other arthropods. It gleans and probes among leaf litter, mossy rocks, and crevices, and occasionally flips leaves or pecks at rotten wood. Small snails and other soft-bodied prey may be taken opportunistically.
Preferred Environment
Forages on the shaded floor of limestone forest, at the bases of cliffs, and around cave entrances and rocky gullies. Dense understory, bamboo, and tangled vine thickets are favored for both feeding and cover.
