Wildlifeof Nepal
Abbott's Babbler
Babblers, Laughingthrushes & White-eyes
Photo: Francesco Veronesi · CC BY-SA 2.0
Malacocincla abbotti
Basic stats
Habitat
Dense undergrowth close to the ground, often near streams, tree ferns and tangled vegetation; up to 600m (275m in Nepal); bulky cup nest low in palms or undergrowth
Clutch size
3–5 bright salmon eggs with dark blotches and red lines
Size
12–13cm
Abbott's babbler is a nondescript, brown, short-tailed, stout babbler 12–13 cm long, with a head of 39–44 mm and a tail of 55–61 mm. It forages in pairs in dense undergrowth close to the ground, often near streams and in the vicinity of tree ferns and tangled vegetation, and its presence is usually indicated by its distinctive calls (Wikipedia, general species account).
It occurs up to 600 m, and 275 m in Nepal. It breeds from April to July, in a carefully placed but bulky cup nest low in palms or other undergrowth; a study in Thailand found most nests in spiny palms and rattans. When disturbed at the nest the birds slip over the edge, fly with laboured wingbeats and then hop out of sight. The usual clutch is three to five eggs (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Abbott's Babbler live in?
- Dense undergrowth close to the ground, often near streams, tree ferns and tangled vegetation; up to 600m (275m in Nepal); bulky cup nest low in palms or undergrowth
- How many eggs does the Abbott's Babbler lay?
- 3–5 bright salmon eggs with dark blotches and red lines
- How big is the Abbott's Babbler?
- 12–13cm