Old World babbler - Revision history

KarenCharley004: cleanup

2025-07-18T22:11:38Z

cleanup

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:41, 19 July 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{Short description\|Family of birds}}		{{Short description\|Family of birds}}
	{{Automatic taxobox		{{Automatic taxobox
	\| name = Babblers		\| name = Babblers
	\| image = Macronus gularis chersonesophilus - Kaeng Krachan.jpg		\| image = Macronus gularis chersonesophilus - Kaeng Krachan.jpg
	\| image_caption = [[Pin-striped tit-babbler]], (''Mixornis gularis'')		\| image_caption = [[Pin-striped tit-babbler]] (''Mixornis gularis'')
	\| taxon = Timaliidae		\| taxon = Timaliidae
	\| authority = [[Nicholas Aylward Vigors\|Vigors]] & [[Thomas Horsfield\|Horsfield]], 1827		\| authority = [[Nicholas Aylward Vigors\|Vigors]] & [[Thomas Horsfield\|Horsfield]], 1827
	\| subdivision_ranks = Genera		\| subdivision_ranks = Genera
	\| subdivision = See article text		\| subdivision = See article text
	}}		}}

	The '''Old World babblers''' or '''Timaliidae''' are a [[family (biology)\|family]] of mostly [[Old World]] [[passerine]] birds. They are rather diverse in size and coloration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage. These are birds of tropical areas, with the greatest variety in [[Southeast Asia]] and the [[Indian subcontinent]]. The timaliids are one of two unrelated groups of birds known as babblers, the other being the [[Australasian babbler]]s of the family Pomatostomidae (also known as pseudo-babblers).		The '''Old World babblers''' or '''Timaliidae''', are a [[family (biology)\|family]] of mostly [[Old World]] [[passerine]] birds. They are rather diverse in size and coloration, but are characterised by soft, fluffy plumage. These are birds of tropical areas, with the greatest variety in [[Southeast Asia]] and the [[Indian subcontinent]]. The timaliids are one of two unrelated groups of birds known as babblers, the other being the [[Australasian babbler]]s of the family Pomatostomidae (also known as pseudo-babblers). This family takes its name from the [[Genus (biology) \| genus]] [[Timalia]]: this generic name was coined by the French zoologist [[Georges Cuvier]] in 1821. Although Cuvier did not explain its etymology, it is thought to be based on a Latinized form of an Asian vernacular name (probably Hindu or Indo-Malaysian languages) for these birds, as many species in this family are native to South and Southeast Asia.

	[[morphology (biology)\|Morphological]] diversity is rather high; most species resemble "[[warbler]]s", [[jay (bird)\|jay]]s or [[thrush (bird)\|thrush]]es. This group is among those Old World bird families with the highest number of species [[Bird species new to science\|still being discovered]].		[[morphology (biology)\|Morphological]] diversity is rather high; most species resemble "[[warbler]]s", [[jay (bird)\|jay]]s or [[thrush (bird)\|thrush]]es. This group is among those Old World bird families with the highest number of species [[Bird species new to science\|still being discovered]].
Line 23:		Line 23:

	==Taxonomy and systematics==		==Taxonomy and systematics==
	The systematics of Old World babblers have long been contested. During much of the 20th century, the family was used as a "[[wastebin taxon]]" for numerous hard-to-place Old World songbirds (such as [[Picathartidae]] and [[Pnoepyga\|Pnoepygidae]], as well as the New World species the [[wrentit]]). The German ornithologist [[Ernst Hartert]] summarized this attitude with the statement that, in the passerines: "''Was man nicht unterbringen kann, sieht man als Timalien an.''" (What one can't place systematically is considered an Old World babbler).<ref>{{ cite book \| last1=Hartert \| first1=Ernst \| author-link=Ernst Hartert \| year=1910 \| title=Die Vögel der paläarktischen Fauna systematische Übersicht der in Europa, Nord-Asien und der Mittelmeerregion vorkommenden Vögel \| volume=1 \| page=469 \| publisher=R. Friedländer & Sohn \| place=Berlin \| language=de \| url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14030276 }}</ref>		The systematics of Old World babblers have long been contested. During much of the 20th century, the family was used as a "[[wastebin taxon]]" for numerous hard-to-place Old World songbirds (such as [[Picathartidae]] and [[Pnoepyga\|Pnoepygidae]], as well as the New World species the [[wrentit]]). The German ornithologist [[Ernst Hartert]] summarized this attitude with the statement that, in the passerines: "{{Lang\|de\|Was man nicht unterbringen kann, sieht man als Timalien an.}}" (What one can't place systematically is considered an Old World babbler).<ref>{{ cite book \| last1=Hartert \| first1=Ernst \| author-link=Ernst Hartert \| year=1910 \| title=Die Vögel der paläarktischen Fauna systematische Übersicht der in Europa, Nord-Asien und der Mittelmeerregion vorkommenden Vögel \| volume=1 \| page=469 \| publisher=R. Friedländer & Sohn \| place=Berlin \| language=de \| url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14030276 }}</ref>

	The most obviously misplaced [[taxa]] were removed piecemeal towards the end of the last century. Since then, with the aid of [[DNA sequence]] data, it has been confirmed that even the remaining group is not [[monophyletic]]. Analysis of [[mtDNA]] [[cytochrome b\|cytochrome ''b'']] and [[12S rRNA\|12S]]/[[MT-RNR2\|16S rRNA]] data (Cibois 2003a) spread the Timaliidae that were studied across what essentially was a badly resolved [[polytomy]] with [[Old World warbler]]s and [[white-eye]]s. As the typical warblers (genus ''[[Sylvia (bird)\|Sylvia]]'') grouped with some presumed timaliids (such as the [[fulvetta]]s), it was suggested that some Sylviidae should be moved to the Timaliidae.		The most obviously misplaced [[taxa]] were removed piecemeal towards the end of the last century. Since then, with the aid of [[DNA sequence]] data, it has been confirmed that even the remaining group is not [[monophyletic]]. Analysis of [[mtDNA]] [[cytochrome b\|cytochrome ''b'']] and [[12S rRNA\|12S]]/[[MT-RNR2\|16S rRNA]] data (Cibois 2003a) spread the Timaliidae that were studied across what essentially was a badly resolved [[polytomy]] with [[Old World warbler]]s and [[white-eye]]s. As the typical warblers (genus ''[[Sylvia (bird)\|Sylvia]]'') grouped with some presumed timaliids (such as the [[fulvetta]]s), it was suggested that some Sylviidae should be moved to the Timaliidae.
Line 32:		Line 32:
	\|1={{clade		\|1={{clade
	\|1={{clade		\|1={{clade
	\|1=[[Pycnonotidae]] – bulbuls (~~160~~ species)		\|1=[[Pycnonotidae]] – bulbuls (167 species)
	\|2={{clade		\|2={{clade
	\|1={{clade		\|1={{clade
	\|1=[[Sylviidae]] – sylviid babblers (34 species)		\|1=[[Sylviidae]] – sylviid babblers (32 species)
	\|2=[[Paradoxornithidae]] – parrotbills and myzornis (37 species)		\|2=[[Paradoxornithidae]] – parrotbills and myzornis (38 species)
	}}		}}
	\|2={{clade		\|2={{clade
	\|1=[[Zosteropidae]] – white-eyes (~~146~~ species)		\|1=[[Zosteropidae]] – white-eyes (152 species)
	\|2={{clade		\|2={{clade
	\|1='''Timaliidae''' – babblers (57 species)		\|1='''Timaliidae''' – babblers (58 species)
	\|2={{clade		\|2={{clade
	\|1=[[Pellorneidae]] – ground babblers (65 species)		\|1=[[Pellorneidae]] – ground babblers (68 species)
	\|2={{clade		\|2={{clade
	\|1=[[Alcippeidae]] – Alcippe fulvettas (10 species)		\|1=[[Alcippeidae]] – Alcippe fulvettas (10 species)
Line 178:		Line 178:

	==External links==		==External links==
			{{Commons category\|Timaliidae}}
	*[http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/babblers-timaliidae Babbler videos] on the Internet Bird Collection		*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171600/http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/babblers-timaliidae Babbler videos] on the Internet Bird Collection

	{{Taxonbar\|from=Q408457}}		{{Taxonbar\|from=Q408457}}

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article

2023-08-31T13:12:15Z

Created a new article

New page

{{Short description|Family of birds}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Babblers
| image = Macronus gularis chersonesophilus - Kaeng Krachan.jpg
| image_caption = [[Pin-striped tit-babbler]], (''Mixornis gularis'')
| taxon = Timaliidae
| authority = [[Nicholas Aylward Vigors|Vigors]] & [[Thomas Horsfield|Horsfield]], 1827
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision = See article text
}}

The '''Old World babblers''' or '''Timaliidae''' are a [[family (biology)|family]] of mostly [[Old World]] [[passerine]] birds. They are rather diverse in size and coloration, but are characterised by soft fluffy plumage. These are birds of tropical areas, with the greatest variety in [[Southeast Asia]] and the [[Indian subcontinent]]. The timaliids are one of two unrelated groups of birds known as babblers, the other being the [[Australasian babbler]]s of the family Pomatostomidae (also known as pseudo-babblers).

[[morphology (biology)|Morphological]] diversity is rather high; most species resemble "[[warbler]]s", [[jay (bird)|jay]]s or [[thrush (bird)|thrush]]es. This group is among those Old World bird families with the highest number of species [[Bird species new to science|still being discovered]].

==Characteristics==

Timaliids are small to medium birds. They have strong legs, and many are quite terrestrial. They typically have generalised bills, similar to those of a [[thrush (bird)|thrush]] or [[warbler]], except for the [[scimitar babbler]]s which, as their name implies, have strongly decurved bills. Most have predominantly brown plumage, with minimal difference between the sexes, but many more brightly coloured species also exist.<ref name=EoB>{{cite book |editor=Forshaw, Joseph|author= Perrins, C.|year=1991|title=Encyclopaedia of Animals: Birds|publisher= Merehurst Press|location=London|pages= 188–190|isbn= 1-85391-186-0}}</ref>

This group is not strongly [[bird migration|migratory]], and most [[species]] have short rounded wings, and a weak flight. They live in lightly wooded or scrubland environments, ranging from swamp to near-desert. They are primarily [[insectivore|insectivorous]], although many will also take berries, and the larger species will even eat small lizards and other vertebrates.<ref name=EoB/>

Typical babblers live in communities of around a dozen birds, jointly defending a territory. Many even breed communally, with a dominant pair building a nest, and the remainder helping to defend and rear their young. Young males remain with the group, while females move away to find a new group, and thus avoid inbreeding. They make nests from twigs, and hide them in dense vegetation.<ref name=EoB/>

==Taxonomy and systematics==
The systematics of Old World babblers have long been contested. During much of the 20th century, the family was used as a "[[wastebin taxon]]" for numerous hard-to-place Old World songbirds (such as [[Picathartidae]] and [[Pnoepyga|Pnoepygidae]], as well as the New World species the [[wrentit]]). The German ornithologist [[Ernst Hartert]] summarized this attitude with the statement that, in the passerines: "''Was man nicht unterbringen kann, sieht man als Timalien an.''" (What one can't place systematically is considered an Old World babbler).<ref>{{ cite book | last1=Hartert | first1=Ernst | author-link=Ernst Hartert | year=1910 | title=Die Vögel der paläarktischen Fauna systematische Übersicht der in Europa, Nord-Asien und der Mittelmeerregion vorkommenden Vögel | volume=1 | page=469 | publisher=R. Friedländer & Sohn | place=Berlin | language=de | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14030276 }}</ref>

The most obviously misplaced [[taxa]] were removed piecemeal towards the end of the last century. Since then, with the aid of [[DNA sequence]] data, it has been confirmed that even the remaining group is not [[monophyletic]]. Analysis of [[mtDNA]] [[cytochrome b|cytochrome ''b'']] and [[12S rRNA|12S]]/[[MT-RNR2|16S rRNA]] data (Cibois 2003a) spread the Timaliidae that were studied across what essentially was a badly resolved [[polytomy]] with [[Old World warbler]]s and [[white-eye]]s. As the typical warblers (genus ''[[Sylvia (bird)|Sylvia]]'') grouped with some presumed timaliids (such as the [[fulvetta]]s), it was suggested that some Sylviidae should be moved to the Timaliidae.

The phylogenetic relationships between Timaliidae and other families was determined in a [[molecular phylogenetic]] study by Tianlong Cai and collaborators that was published in 2019. It is shown in the cladogram below:<ref name=cai>{{Cite journal | last1=Cai | first1=T. | last2=Cibois | first2=A. | last3=Alström | first3=P. | last4=Moyle | first4=R.G. | last5=Kennedy | first5=J.D. | last6=Shao | first6=S. | last7=Zhang | first7=R. | last8=Irestedt | first8=M. | last9=Ericson | first9=P.G.P. | last10=Gelang | first10=M. | last11=Qu | first11=Y. | last12=Lei | first12=F. | last13=Fjeldså | first13=J. | date=2019 | title=Near-complete phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the world's babblers (Aves: Passeriformes) | journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | volume=130 | pages=346–356 | doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2018.10.010 | pmid=30321696 | doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=ioc/>

{{clade| style=font-size:90%;line-height:90%
|1={{clade
|1={{clade
|1=[[Pycnonotidae]] – bulbuls (160 species)
|2={{clade
|1={{clade
|1=[[Sylviidae]] – sylviid babblers (34 species)
|2=[[Paradoxornithidae]] – parrotbills and myzornis (37 species)
}}
|2={{clade
|1=[[Zosteropidae]] – white-eyes (146 species)
|2={{clade
|1='''Timaliidae''' – babblers (57 species)
|2={{clade
|1=[[Pellorneidae]] – ground babblers (65 species)
|2={{clade
|1=[[Alcippeidae]] – Alcippe fulvettas (10 species)
|2=[[Leiothrichidae]] – laughingthrushes and allies (133 species)
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}

The cladogram below shows the relationships between the genera. These were determined in the same study by Cai and collaborators.<ref name=cai/><ref name=ioc/>
{{clade|style=font-size:90%;line-height:90%
|label1='''Timaliidae'''
|1={{clade
|1={{clade
|1={{clade
|1=''[[Timalia]]'' – chestnut-capped babbler
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Dumetia]]'' – babblers (2 species)
|2=''[[Mixornis]]'' – tit-babblers (5 species)
}}
}}
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Macronus]]'' – tit-babblers (2 species)
|2=''[[Cyanoderma]]'' – babblers (8 species)
}}
}}
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Spelaeornis]]'' – wren-babblers (8 species)
|2={{clade
|1={{clade
|1=''[[Melanocichla]]'' – laughingthrushes (2 species)
|2=''[[Pomatorhinus]]'' – scimitar babblers (10 species)
}}
|2={{clade
|1=''[[Erythrogenys]]'' – scimitar babblers (6 species)
|2=''[[Stachyris]]'' – babblers (13 species)
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}

===List of genera===
The family as currently constituted includes 58 species divided into the following ten genera:<ref name=ioc>{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen | date=January 2021 | title=Babblers & fulvettas | work=IOC World Bird List Version 11.1 | url=http://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/babblers/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | accessdate=17 June 2021 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Image !! Genus !! Living species
|-
|[[File:Large Scimitar-babbler - Thailand.jpg|175px]] ||''[[Erythrogenys]]'' {{small|Baker, 1930}} – scimitar-babblers ||
* [[Large scimitar babbler]], ''Erythrogenys hypoleucos''
* [[Black-necklaced scimitar babbler]], ''Erythrogenys erythrocnemis''
* [[Black-streaked scimitar babbler]], ''Erythrogenys gravivox''
* [[Spot-breasted scimitar babbler]], ''Erythrogenys mcclellandi''
* [[Grey-sided scimitar babbler]], ''Erythrogenys swinhoei''
* [[Rusty-cheeked scimitar babbler]], ''Erythrogenys erythrogenys''
|-
|[[File:Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler.jpg|175px]] ||''[[Pomatorhinus]]'' {{small|Horsfield, 1821}} – scimitar-babblers ||
* [[Indian scimitar babbler]], ''Pomatorhinus horsfieldii''
* [[Sri Lanka scimitar babbler]] ''Pomatorhinus melanurus''
* [[White-browed scimitar babbler]], ''Pomatorhinus schisticeps''
* [[Javan scimitar babbler]], ''Pomatorhinus montanus''
* [[Sunda scimitar babbler]], ''Pomatorhinus bornensis''
* [[Streak-breasted scimitar babbler]], ''Pomatorhinus ruficollis''
* [[Taiwan scimitar babbler]], ''Pomatorhinus musicus''
* [[Red-billed scimitar babbler]], ''Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps''
* [[Black-crowned scimitar babbler]], ''Pomatorhinus ferruginosus''
* [[Brown-crowned scimitar babbler]], ''Pomatorhinus phayrei''
* [[Slender-billed scimitar babbler]], ''Pomatorhinus superciliaris''
|-
|[[File:Bar-winged Wren-Babbler - Eaglenest - India FJ0A8141 (33475375613).jpg|175px]] ||''[[Spelaeornis]]'' {{small|David & Oustalet, 1877}} – typical wren-babblers ||
* [[Rufous-throated wren-babbler]], ''Spelaeornis caudatus''
* [[Mishmi wren-babbler]], ''Spelaeornis badeigularis''
* [[Bar-winged wren-babbler]], ''Spelaeornis troglodytoides''
* [[Naga wren-babbler]], ''Spelaeornis chocolatinus''
* [[Grey-bellied wren-babbler]], ''Spelaeornis reptatus''
* [[Chin Hills wren-babbler]], ''Spelaeornis oatesi''
* [[Pale-throated wren-babbler]], ''Spelaeornis kinneari''
* [[Tawny-breasted wren-babbler]], ''Spelaeornis longicaudatus''
|-
|[[File:Grey-throated babbler Zuluk East Sikkim Sikkim India 24.05.2015.jpg|175px]] ||''[[Stachyris]]'' {{small|Hodgson, 1844}} ||
* [[White-breasted babbler]], ''Stachyris grammiceps''
* [[Sooty babbler]], ''Stachyris herberti''
* [[Nonggang babbler]], ''Stachyris nonggangensis''
* [[Grey-throated babbler]], ''Stachyris nigriceps''
* [[Grey-headed babbler]], ''Stachyris poliocephala''
* [[Spot-necked babbler]], ''Stachyris strialata''
* [[Snowy-throated babbler]], ''Stachyris oglei''
* [[Chestnut-rumped babbler]], ''Stachyris maculata''
* [[White-necked babbler]], ''Stachyris leucotis''
* [[Black-throated babbler]], ''Stachyris nigricollis''
* [[White-bibbed babbler]], ''Stachyris thoracica''
* [[Sikkim wedge-billed babbler]], ''Stachyris humei''
* [[Cachar wedge-billed babbler]], ''Stachyris roberti''
|-
|[[File:Chestnut-winged Babbler, Danum Valley, Borneo (5836179271).jpg|175px]] ||''[[Cyanoderma]]'' {{small|Salvadori, 1874}}<ref name=HBoW2016>{{cite book |year=2016 |editor1=del Hoyo, J. |editor2=Elliott, A. |editor3=Sargatal, J. |editor4=Christie, D. A. |editor5=de Juana, E. |title=Handbook of the Birds of the World |publisher=Lynx Edicions |location=Barcelona |volume=2: Passerines |last1=Collar |first1=N. J. |last2=Robson |first2=C. |chapter=Scimitar-babblers and allies |chapter-url=https://www.hbw.com/family/scimitar-babblers-and-allies-timaliidae }}</ref> ||
* [[Rufous-fronted babbler]] ''Cyanoderma rufifrons''
* [[Rufous-capped babbler]] ''Cyanoderma ruficeps''
* [[Black-chinned babbler]] ''Cyanoderma pyrrhops''
* [[Golden babbler]] ''Cyanoderma chrysaeum''
* [[Chestnut-winged babbler]] ''Cyanoderma erythropterum''
* [[Crescent-chested babbler]] ''Cyanoderma melanothorax''
* [[Buff-chested babbler]] ''Cyanoderma ambiguum''
|-
|[[File:Tawny bellied warbler 2 by David Raju (cropped).jpg|175px]] ||''[[Dumetia]]'' {{small|Blyth, 1852}} ||
* [[Tawny-bellied babbler]], ''Dumetia hyperythra''
* [[Dark-fronted babbler]], ''Dumetia atriceps''
|-
|[[File:Pin-striped Tit-babbler Macronus gularis by Dr. Raju Kasambe DSC 5961 (65).jpg|175px]] ||''[[Mixornis]]'' {{small|Blyth, 1842}} – tit-babblers ||
* [[Pin-striped tit-babbler]], ''Mixornis gularis''
* [[Bold-striped tit-babbler]], ''Mixornis bornensis''
* [[Grey-cheeked tit-babbler]], ''Mixornis flavicollis''
* [[Kangean tit-babbler]], ''Mixornis prillwitzi''
* [[Grey-faced tit-babbler]], ''Mixornis kelleyi''
|-
|[[File:Macronus striaticeps.jpg|175px]] ||''[[Macronus]]'' {{small|Jardine & Selby, 1835}} – tit-babblers ||
* [[Brown tit-babbler]], ''Macronus striaticeps''
* [[Fluffy-backed tit-babbler]], ''Macronus ptilosus''
|-
|[[File:Chestnut-capped-Babbler (8713230888).jpg|175px]] ||''[[Timalia]]'' {{small|Horsfield, 1821}} ||
*[[Chestnut-capped babbler]], ''Timalia pileata''
|-
|[[File:0A2A1562 Bare-headed Laughingthrush.jpg|175px]] ||''[[Melanocichla]]'' {{small|Sharpe, 1883}} ||
* [[Black laughingthrush]], ''Melanocichla lugubris''
* [[Bare-headed laughingthrush]], ''Melanocichla calva''
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

*[http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/babblers-timaliidae Babbler videos] on the Internet Bird Collection

{{Taxonbar|from=Q408457}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Old World babblers| ]]
[[Category:Timaliidae|.]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Nicholas Aylward Vigors]]