The rufous limestone babbler is a species of bird in the family Pellorneidae. It is endemic to the limestone hills of central Thailand. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the variable limestone babbler but a 2020 study recovered it as a distinct species.
Region
Central Thailand
Typical Environment
Found on limestone karst outcrops, rocky ravines, and boulder fields cloaked in scrub, bamboo, and dry evergreen forest edges. It keeps close to the ground, hopping among rocks and probing crevices for prey. The species also frequents cave mouths and shaded gullies where moisture retains invertebrate life. Its range is highly fragmented, tracking discrete limestone hills separated by agricultural lowlands.
Altitude Range
50–900 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This limestone specialist is confined to karst outcrops in central Thailand and was only recently recognized as a distinct species from the variable limestone babbler (2020). It skulks among rocks and crevices, often remaining invisible despite calling loudly. Pairs frequently duet, creating an antiphonal song that helps maintain territories in rugged terrain.
Temperament
secretive and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low over ground
Social Behavior
Typically seen singly or in pairs that maintain year-round territories on isolated karst hills. Nests are placed in rock crevices or among tangled roots and stones, with small clutches. Family groups may remain together briefly after fledging before dispersing to adjacent rock patches.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A clear, ringing series of whistles and trills delivered from low perches or hidden within rocks. Pairs often duet antiphonally, with the second bird responding a fraction of a second after the first, producing a rapid, echoing exchange.
Plumage
Warm rufous-brown upperparts with fine mottling and subtle barring on the tail; underparts buffy to rufous with light scaling or streaking on the breast. Throat often paler, with a faint whitish wash and darker malar edges. Feathers are soft and cryptic, matching limestone and leaf-litter tones.
Diet
Primarily small invertebrates such as ants, beetles, crickets, cockroaches, and spiders, gleaned from leaf litter and rock crevices. It may also take small snails and other soft-bodied prey when available. Foraging is mostly by hopping and probing, rarely sallying to catch flying insects.
Preferred Environment
Feeds on shaded limestone slopes, at cave entrances, and along rocky gullies where detritus accumulates. Often forages under shrubs and bamboo clumps that overhang rock piles, using cover for concealment.
