The Sumatran wren-babbler is a species of bird in the family Pellorneidae. It is endemic to western Sumatra. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.
Region
Sumatra Highlands
Typical Environment
Occurs in the montane forests of western Sumatra, favoring dense, moist understory with thick leaf litter and bamboo or rattan tangles. It is typically found along shaded ravines, mossy slopes, and near trickling streams where invertebrates are abundant. The species keeps close to the ground and uses cover to move between foraging patches. Intact primary forest is preferred, but it may persist in well-structured secondary growth if the understory remains dense.
Altitude Range
800–2200 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A shy understory specialist of the Barisan Mountains, the Sumatran wren-babbler is far more often heard than seen. It creeps through mossy ground layers and thickets with its short tail often cocked. Its presence indicates relatively intact montane forest, especially along damp gullies and stream edges.
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats within dense cover
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs, sometimes with a dependent juvenile. Nests are placed low, often domed or well concealed in dense vegetation. Pairs maintain small territories and communicate with soft contact notes.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a clear, ringing series of whistles delivered from low perches within thickets, often accelerating or slightly rising. Calls include sharp chips and thin, piping notes used for contact and alarm.
Plumage
Compact, short-tailed wren-babbler with warm brown upperparts and heavily mottled or barred underparts. The throat and breast often show fine scaling, and the belly is dull buff to brown. Feathers are soft and cryptic, aiding concealment in dim understory light.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small arthropods such as beetles, ants, spiders, and larvae gleaned from leaf litter and mossy logs. It probes into crevices, root tangles, and damp leaf mats to extract prey. Occasional small snails or other invertebrates may be taken, especially near streams.
Preferred Environment
Forages on or near the ground in dense, shaded understory, particularly along stream banks, ravines, and bamboo thickets. Frequently uses fallen logs, exposed roots, and mossy rocks as foraging substrates.
