The Palawan striped babbler (Zosterornis hypogrammicus) is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is one of the four striped babblers along with the Negros striped babbler, Panay striped babbler and Luzon striped babbler. It is endemic to the Philippines, where it is only found in Palawan. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.
| Palawan striped babbler | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Zosteropidae |
| Genus: | Zosterornis |
| Species: | Z. hypogrammicus
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| Binomial name | |
| Zosterornis hypogrammicus (Salomonsen, 1961)
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| Synonyms | |
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Stachyris hypogrammicus | |
Description
editEBird describes the bird as "A fairly small, localized bird of mid-elevation montane forest on Palawan. Medium-brown above and pale buffy below with heavy black streaks, especially on the chest. Note white throat, gray face, and pale rufous crown. Often found in mixed-species flocks. Somewhat similar to Pin-striped Tit-Babbler, but larger, with a white throat and a dark eye. Voice includes a downslurred nasal squeal and other varied calls."[2] This species does not exhibit sexual dimorphism.
It is the most distinctive among the four striped babblers (others being the Luzon striped babbler, the Panay striped babbler and the Negros striped babbler), which are generally plain brown versus the Palawan striped babbler's olive yellow markings.[3]
Ecology and behavior
editThe stomach contents of 2 individuals contained insects, seeds and some vegetable matter. Found singly, in pairs and small groups. Joins mixed-species feeding flocks that include Warbling white-eye, Mangrove whistler, Mountain leaf warbler and Palawan tit. Gleans dead leaves searching for food and forages in all levels of the cannopy.
Birds in breeding condition with enlarged gonads found in the months of April and May. Otherwise, no information on breeding, nest and fledgling stages. [4]
Habitat and conservation status
editThis species is known from primary montane mossy forest from 1,000 m to 2,000 m. It is only found on three mountains, namely Mount Mantalingajan, Mt. Victoria and Mt. Borangbato. [3]
Despite its extremely limited range, IUCN has assessed this bird as least concern but was formerly assessed as near-threatened. This species' main threat is habitat loss with wholesale clearance of forest habitats as a result of logging, agricultural conversion and mining activities occurring within the range.The whole of Palawan was designated as a Biosphere Reserve; however, protection and enforcement of laws has been difficult and these threats still continue.
References
edit- ^ BirdLife International (2022). "Zosterornis hypogrammicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T22716243A203239963. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ "Palawan Striped Babbler". Ebird.
- ^ a b Allen, Desmond (2020). Birds of the Philippines. Barcelona: Lynx and Birdlife Guides International. pp. 294–295.
- ^ Collar, Nigel; Robson, Craig (2020). "Palawan Striped-Babbler (Zosterornis hypogrammicus), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.pasbab1.01species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN 2771-3105.
- Collar, N. J. & Robson, C. 2007. Family Timaliidae (Babblers) pp. 70 – 291 in; del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Christie, D.A. eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 12. Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
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