The striated wren-babbler is a species of passerine bird in the Pellorneidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines found on the islands of Bohol, Samar, Leyte, Basilan, Dinagat Islands and Mindanao. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and the lower reaches of tropical moist montane forest.
Region
Philippine Archipelago (Mindanao region)
Typical Environment
Endemic to the southern and eastern Philippines, occurring on Mindanao and neighboring islands including Bohol, Samar, Leyte, Dinagat, and Basilan. It inhabits tropical moist lowland forest and the lower reaches of montane forest, typically below the mossy zone. The species favors dense understory along ravines and streams, tangles of rattan and bamboo, and mature secondary growth. It keeps close to the ground, using thick leaf litter and root buttresses for cover.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A shy, ground-dwelling babbler, it is far more often heard than seen as it creeps through dense understory. The 'striated' name refers to its finely streaked underparts, which help it blend with leaf litter. Island populations show subtle differences in plumage and voice, and some have been treated separately by taxonomists. Its persistence hinges on the conservation of lowland and lower montane rainforests in the southern Philippines.
Temperament
secretive and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low and direct through understory
Social Behavior
Usually in pairs or small family groups, keeping close contact with soft calls as they move through the understory. Nests are typically placed near the ground in dense vegetation, often domed or well-concealed. During the breeding season, pairs defend small territories within intact forest.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
The song is a series of thin, clear whistles delivered from low perches, often repeated with subtle variations. Calls include soft chips and a quiet, accelerating sequence that can be ventriloquial in dense forest.
Plumage
Compact, short-tailed babbler with warm brown upperparts and finely streaked buff-and-dark underparts. Throat and breast show neat striations; back and wings are plain brown with a slightly rufous wash.
Diet
Primarily small invertebrates such as ants, beetles, spiders, and other arthropods gleaned from leaf litter and rotting wood. It probes among fallen leaves, mossy logs, and root tangles, flicking debris aside with the bill. Occasionally takes small snails or other soft-bodied prey.
Preferred Environment
Forages on or just above the forest floor in dense understory, especially along stream edges, gullies, and buttressed tree bases. It favors patches with deep leaf litter and thickets that offer cover from predators.
