The chestnut-rumped babbler is a species of bird in the family Timaliidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Region
Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of Brunei, Indonesia (Kalimantan and nearby lowlands), Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak), and southern Thailand. It favors dense understory, vine tangles, and bamboo thickets within primary and well-structured secondary forest. The species often keeps close to the ground or mid-understory, moving through thickets and along forest edges. It avoids heavily degraded habitats and large open areas. Presence is patchy where lowland forests have been extensively cleared.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 900 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A skulking understory babbler, it betrays its presence more by sound than sight, often giving mellow whistles and chattering calls. Pairs and small groups frequently duet, which helps keep contact in dense foliage. Its reliance on intact lowland forest makes it a good indicator of habitat quality and also renders it vulnerable to deforestation.
Temperament
secretive and wary
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, typically low and brief
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family parties, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks in the understory. Maintains contact through duets and antiphonal calling while moving through dense cover. Nests are typically domed or cup-like and placed low in shrubs or clumps of vegetation.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of mellow, whistled notes and soft chattering phrases, often delivered antiphonally by a pair. Alarm calls are sharper, scolding chips from deep cover.
Plumage
Warm brown upperparts with a distinct chestnut rump and uppertail coverts; buffy to olive-brown underparts with fine spotting or streaking on the throat and breast. The throat is paler, often whitish, with subtle scaling. Feathers are soft and sleek, aiding silent movement through dense foliage.
Diet
Primarily feeds on insects and other small arthropods such as beetles, ants, spiders, and caterpillars. It gleans prey from leaves, twigs, and dead leaf clusters, and occasionally probes bark crevices. Small quantities of berries or soft fruits may be taken opportunistically.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense understory and vine tangles, along forest edges, and in bamboo patches. Often stays within a few meters of the ground, moving methodically through foliage and fallen branches.
