Sunday 4 December 2016

Indian Scimitar Babbler and the White-browed Scimitar Babbler...

Scimitar babblers are a great set of birds to see, the problem, however, is that they are fairly secretive in their existence and do not really reveal themselves eagerly. That being said - there is only one Scimitar babbler in the peninsular India - the Indian Scimitar-babbler (Pomatorhinus horsfieldii). The second one is the White-browed Scimitar-babbler (Pomatorhinus schisticeps) that is very close in appearance and vocalisations to the Indian Scimitar-babbler. I am privileged to see both the birds and see them will enough appreciate the little bit of differences they have with each other.  Also I must add that - there are not less than ten Scimitar Babblers in India, it is the peninsular India that has only one. The others are residents of North India (Himalayas) and East India. 
Indian Scimitar-babbler

For us, the birdwatchers these Scimitar Babbler are a prized find anytime and every time. Though I have seen these birds a number of times but like I said - to find and see it at anytime is still a treat. I saw a total of four birds while birding in the Nalamala forest recently. Before I post the pictures a small introduction to this bird would be in order. Earlier these birds were clubbed together under the White-browed Scimitar Babbler but have now been split into two - namely the Indian Scimitar Babbler and the White-browed Scimitar Babbler. The dividing line is the rough line running parallel to the Himalayas from north Rajasthan to Orrisa. Had it not been for the totally separated areas where these birds are found - I wonder how I would have been seeing these birds any different from one another.
Indian Scimitar-babbler
White-browed Scimitar-babbler

White-browed Scimitar-babbler

White-browed Scimitar-babbler

White-browed Scimitar-babbler                                                                     Indian Scimitar-babbler
Okay jokes apart - the birds could have been differentiated in field but seriously would have been a pain if they were found in the same region. Just hear the sounds and you will appreciate more as to what I am saying.


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