Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler (Erythrogenys erythrogenys)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler

Erythrogenys erythrogenys (Vigors, 1831)

≈24 cmLength55 gWeight

This vocal bird has a long, decurved, scimitar-like bill and rusty sides to the face, and often forms small flocks.

Looks like Red-eyed Scimitar Babbler

Least Concern

How to identify

Field marks

  1. Long, decurved bill, like a scimitar
  2. Rusty sides of face and head
  3. Olive-brown upperparts
  4. Mostly white belly

Male, female and young

Sexes similar.

Voice

Soft, flute-like whistles, a two-syllable “CUE..PE...CUE..pe”; the mate responds with a single note.

Similar species

Red-eyed Scimitar Babbler
Red-eyed Scimitar Babbler

Formerly treated as the same species, but separated because of differences in appearance and calls; Red-eyed Scimitar Babbler occurs in eastern Myanmar and northwestern Thailand.

Where and when it's recorded

No records at the public birding hotspots we track. It may be rare, remote, or its locations protected.

About

The rusty-cheeked scimitar babbler (Erythrogenys erythrogenys) is a passerine bird in the babbler family Timaliidae that is found in the Himalayas from northeast Pakistan to Bhutan. It was formerly considered as conspecific with the red-eyed scimitar babbler that is found in eastern Myanmar and northwestern Thailand.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler?

The Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler is about ≈24 cm long and weighs around 55 g.

Where does the Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler live?

Its breeding range: Oriental: Himalayas from northeastern Pakistan to Bhutan.

Is the Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler as Least Concern.

What does the Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler in?

It belongs to the family Babblers, Scimitar Babblers (Timaliidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Length
≈24 cm
Weight
55 g
Habitat
Shrubland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Active on the ground
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
95 mm
Tail
108 mm
Bill
34 mm
Tarsus
37 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Oriental: Himalayas from northeastern Pakistan to Bhutan

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Genus
Erythrogenys

Other birds in the genus Erythrogenys

Large Scimitar BabblerLarge Scimitar BabblerErythrogenys hypoleucosRed-eyed Scimitar BabblerRed-eyed Scimitar BabblerErythrogenys imberbisSpot-breasted Scimitar BabblerSpot-breasted Scimitar BabblerErythrogenys mcclellandiBlack-streaked Scimitar BabblerBlack-streaked Scimitar BabblerErythrogenys gravivoxGrey-sided Scimitar BabblerGrey-sided Scimitar BabblerErythrogenys swinhoeiBlack-necklaced Scimitar BabblerBlack-necklaced Scimitar BabblerErythrogenys erythrocnemisChestnut-capped BabblerChestnut-capped BabblerTimalia pileataTawny-bellied BabblerTawny-bellied BabblerDumetia hyperythraDark-fronted BabblerDark-fronted BabblerDumetia atricepsGrey-faced Tit-BabblerGrey-faced Tit-BabblerMixornis kelleyi
Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by pelagicgraf. ↗

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