The Naga wren-babbler or long-tailed wren-babbler is a bird species in the family Timaliidae. In India it is found in Nagaland and Manipur.
Region
Northeast India and northwest Myanmar
Typical Environment
Occurs in dense subtropical and lower montane broadleaf forest, especially in thick understory with bamboo, ferns, and tangled shrubs. Favors steep ravines, stream gullies, and forest edges with heavy leaf litter. Often persists in selectively logged or secondary forest if sufficient undergrowth remains. Patchy in occurrence, tracking pockets of intact understory.
Altitude Range
900–2300 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A shy, ground-loving babbler of dense hill forests, the Naga wren-babbler often moves mouse-like through leaf litter and bamboo tangles. Its notably long, graduated tail helps with balance as it darts through undergrowth. The clear, whistled song carries surprisingly far, making this secretive bird easier to detect by ear than by sight.
Temperament
skulking and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats close to the ground
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, occasionally in small family groups. Forages low in dense cover, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks along forest edges. Nests are typically placed low in shrubs or on banks, often domed and well concealed.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of clear, whistled notes delivered in short phrases, often repeated from a hidden perch. Pairs may engage in antiphonal duets; calls include thin, high-pitched tseep notes.
