18 Ground Babblers Of Vietnam

Ground Babbler of Vietnam – Pellorneidae

With 18 species Ground Babblers of Vietnam, occurring over the country. Ground Babbler family has close relatives to the Babbler family and both of them belong to the superfamily Sylvioidea. Although they are not as colorful as Babbler, Collared Babbler is a jewel that helps this family defeat all kinds of Babbler family because of their beauty.

You may know: Ground Babbler contributes to Vietnam bird diversity two Endemic species is Black-crowned Fulvetta and White-throated Wren-Babbler

The overview of Ground Babblers families

They are quite diverse in size and coloration and usually characterized by soft, fluffy plumage and a tail on average the length of their body, or longer. These birds are found in tropical zones, with the greatest biodiversity in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

Morphological diversity is rather high; most species resemble warblers, jays, or thrushes, making field identification difficult.

The family Pellorneidae was first introduced by the French-American ornithologist Jean Théodore Delacour in 1946. Pellorneidae used to be one of four subfamilies of Timaliidae (tree- and scimitar-babblers) but was then elevated to its own family rank in 2011 based on molecular markers

Ground Babblers are small to medium-sized birds which are on average 14 cm long and weigh around 30g, but range from 10–26 cm, and 12-36g.

Divided between being terrestrial and arboreal, Pellorneidae have strong legs. They usually have generalised bills, similar to those of a thrush or warbler, with the exception of the long-billed wren-babbler (Rimator malacoptilus) and both species of scimitar babbler from the Jabouilleia genus which have long, curved bills. Most jungle babblers have predominantly brown plumage with little sexual dimorphism, but brightly coloured species of this family also exist. Many jungle babblers have distinctive ‘eyebrows’ and ‘caps’ which may help to differentiate them from similarly-sized and coloured species.

This group is not strongly migratory, and most species have short rounded wings, and weak flight. They live in lightly wooded, scrubland, or jungle environments, ranging from swamp to near-desert. They are primarily insectivorous, although many will also take berries, and the larger, omnivorous species will even eat small lizards and other vertebrates

Ground Babblers are generally non-migratory, social birds, defined by their lack of seasonal plumage and unspotted juvenile plumage. These birds tend to be shy, but a few species are highly territorial and respond to playbacks of their vocalizations. Breeding behavior is not well known for all species of jungle babbler, but some birds, such as the Streaked wren-Babbler (Napothera brevicaudata) have adapted to their habitat by nesting in holes or shallow cavities in the limestone cliffs and boulders of their region. Others nest on the ground or in trees or shrubs. Care of nestlings by both parents is common, and cooperative breeding is prevalent among Babblers

Ground Babblers of Vietnam species note

White-throated Wren Babbler Napothera pasquieri (Endemic)

Status: Super Rare Local Resident – Endangered Species

Best time to watch & Photo: Feb-Apr

Tour cover: North-West

Hotspot: Sa Pa -Fansipan Mt

Black-crowned Fulvetta Schoeniparus klossi (Endemic)

Status: Uncommon Resident

Best time to watch & Photo: Feb-Apr

Tours: Central Highlands

Hotspot: Dalat

Collared Babbler Gampsorhynchus torquatus

Status: Common resident

Best time to watch & Photo: Feb-Apr

Tours: Exclude Plains

Hotspot: Dalat Plateau, Tam Dao

Indochinese Wren Babbler Napothera danjoui

Status: Uncommon resident

Best time to watch & Photo: Feb-Apr

Tours: Highlands

Hotspot: Dalat, Phong Nha – Ke Bang

Streaked Wren Babbler Turdinus brevicaudatus

Status: Common resident

Best time to watch & Photo: Feb-Apr

Tours: Exclude Plains

Hotspot: Di Linh, Dalat, Sa Pa – Fansipan

Rusty-capped Fulvetta Schoeniparus dubius

Status: Uncommon resident

Best time to watch & Photo: Feb-Apr

Tours: Highlands

Hotspot: Sa Pa – Fansipan

Rufous-throated Fulvetta Schoeniparus rufogularis

Status: Uncommon resident

Best time to watch & Photo: Feb-Apr

Tours: Northern & Central

Hotspot: Bach Ma, Cuc Phuong, Ba Vi

Rufous-winged Fulvetta Schoeniparus castaneceps

Status: Uncommon resident

Best time to watch & Photo: Jun-Aug

Tours: Exclude Plains & Coastline

Hotspot: Dalat, Sa Pa

Buff-breasted Babbler Pellorneum tickelli

Status: Common resident

Best time to watch & Photo: Feb-Apr

Tour: Exclude Mekong Delta

Hotspot: Cat Tien, Tan Phu, Ma Da

List of all Ground Babblers in Vietnam

All Vietnam Birds Families