The Palawan striped babbler is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is one of the four striped babblers along with the Negros striped babbler, Panay striped babbler and Luzon striped babbler. It is endemic to the Philippines, where it is only found in Palawan. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Region
Palawan Island
Typical Environment
Found only in the highlands of Palawan, inhabiting tropical moist montane and mossy forests. It frequents dense undergrowth, vine tangles, and bamboo or sapling thickets along ridgelines and steep slopes. The species also uses mature secondary forest where understory cover remains intact. It is generally absent from lowlands and heavily degraded habitats.
Altitude Range
800–1900 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Part of a Philippine 'striped babbler' group, this species was reclassified into the white-eye family (Zosteropidae) based on modern taxonomy. It is highly active and often forages in mixed-species flocks with other montane birds. On Palawan, it favors mossy forest along ridges and steep gullies where it stays low to mid-level in dense vegetation.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen in small parties or family groups and commonly joins mixed-species foraging flocks. Pairs maintain contact calls as they move through dense understory. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low to mid-level in shrubs or small trees, with both parents participating in care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A high, thin series of twitters and trills interspersed with sharp tsee notes. Pairs may produce antiphonal phrases that sound like a rapid, tinkling chatter from within cover.
Plumage
Warm brown upperparts with slightly rufescent wings and boldly striped underparts; fine dark streaks over a buffy to whitish breast and belly. Throat paler, with a subtle pale eyebrow and darker lores. Feathers appear close-textured, aiding a sleek, compact look in dense foliage.
Diet
Primarily small arthropods such as insects, spiders, and their larvae, gleaned from leaves, twigs, and mossy surfaces. It probes bark crevices and dead leaf clusters and occasionally hawks short distances for flushed prey. Small berries or soft fruits may be taken opportunistically.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in dense understory to mid-story of montane and mossy forest, especially along ridges and forest edges with thick vegetation. Also forages in bamboo patches and vine tangles where insect prey is abundant.
