Shrike-babblers

Taxobox
name = Shrike-babblers

---

image_caption = female White-browed Shrike-babbler
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Timaliidae
genus = "Pteruthius"
genus_authority = Swainson, 1832The Shrike-babblers is a group of small birds in the genus "Pteruthius". They are native to the Indomalayan ecozone, and traditionally placed in the family Timaliidae, although genetic work suggests they belong in the otherwise New World family Vireonidae. [Reddy, S. (2008) Systematics and biogeography of the shrike-babblers (Pteruthius): Species limits, molecular phylogenetics, and diversification patterns across southern Asia. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 47:54–72] [Reddy, S., Cracraft, J., 2007. Old World Shrike-babblers (Pteruthius) belong with New World Vireos (Vireonidae). Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 44, 1352–1357.] Most species are found in montane forests, with some species descending down to lower altitudes during the winter.

The Shrike-babblers range in size from 11.5-20 cm in length and 10-48 g. They are divergent in plumage and size but all possess a stout black hooked bill, short rictal bristles and a distinctive juvenile plumage. They all exhibit sexual dimorphism in plumage, with the males generally brighter. The song is simple and monotonous.

None of the species are considered threatened by human activities.

Species

* White-browed Shrike-babbler ("Pteruthius flaviscapis")
* Black-eared Shrike-babbler ("Pteruthius melanotis")
* Black-headed Shrike-babbler ("Pteruthius rufiventer")
* Green Shrike-babbler ("Pteruthius xanthochlorus")
* Chestnut-fronted Shrike-babbler ("Pteruthius aenobarbus")

References