Tibetan babax

The Tibetan babax is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It is endemic to China. It is threatened by habitat loss.

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Distribution

Region

Tibetan Plateau

Typical Environment

The Tibetan babax occupies shrubby river valleys, scrubby hillsides, and forest edges within south-central Tibet. It is closely associated with dense thorny thickets, willow and seabuckthorn scrub, and hedgerows near cultivation. Birds remain near ground level or in the lower shrub layer, using cover to skulk and forage. It may occur near villages and terrace fields where remnant scrub persists, provided sufficient dense cover is available.

Altitude Range

3000–4300 m

Climate Zone

Highland

Characteristics

Size25–28 cm

Wing Span34–38 cm

Male Weight0.1 kg

Female Weight0.09 kg

Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Also known as Koslow’s babax, this laughingthrush-relative is confined to south-central Tibet in China. It favors dense scrub and river-valley thickets and is often detected by its loud, musical duets. Habitat degradation from grazing and agricultural expansion threatens its limited range. It typically forages low in cover, moving in small family groups.

Behaviour

Temperament

social and active

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Usually seen in pairs or small family parties that keep close contact in dense cover. Nests are placed low in shrubs; the cup nest holds a small clutch and both parents participate in care. Outside breeding, loose groups may forage together while remaining secretive.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A loud, musical series of rich whistles, chatters, and trills often delivered antiphonally by a pair. Calls include scolding churrs and sharp contact notes from within cover.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Tibetan blackbird

The Tibetan blackbird is a species of bird in the thrush family Turdidae. It is found in the Himalayas from northern Pakistan to southeastern Tibet. Originally described as a separate species by Henry Seebohm in 1881, it was then considered a subspecies of the common blackbird until 2008, when phylogenetic evidence revealed that it was only distantly related to the latter species. It is a relatively large thrush, having an overall length of 23–28 centimetres. Males are blackish-brown all over with darker plumage on the head, breast, wings and tail and dull orange-yellow bills, while females have browner underparts, faint streaking on the throat, and a dull darkish yellow bill. Both sexes may seem slightly hooded. It can be differentiated from the common blackbird by its complete lack of an eye-ring and reduced song.

Tibetan eared pheasant

The Tibetan eared pheasant, also called Elwes' eared pheasant, is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae found in southeast Tibet and adjacent northern India, usually between 3,000 and 5,000 m elevation, but has been seen down to 2,280 m (7,500 ft) in winter. The species is named after Henry John Harman.

Tibetan partridge

The Tibetan partridge is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes. They are found widely across the Tibetan Plateau and have some variations in plumage across populations. They forage on the ground in the sparsely vegetated high altitude regions, moving in pairs during the summer and in larger groups during the non-breeding season. Neither males nor females have spurs on their legs.