Kingdom Animalia Genus Robsonius Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Family Locustellidae Scientific name Robsonius rabori Higher classification Robsonius Order Passerine | |
Similar Robsonius, Mindanao miniature babbler, Visayan pygmy babbler, Falcated wren‑babbler, Golden‑crowned babbler | ||
The Cordillera ground warbler, also known as Rabor's wren-babbler, and Luzon wren-babbler (Robsonius rabori) is a species of bird currently placed in the Locustellidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines. Some taxonomists continue to list the species in the Timaliidae, others in the Pellorneidae.
Contents
- Physical traits
- Backgrounddiscovery
- Diet
- Breeding habits and nesting
- Populated area
- Conservation
- References
Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Physical traits
The robsonius rabori reaches a length of 20–22 centimeters when it matures. It has rather notable long legs and a long bill. Its feathers tipped dusky brown and it has a rusty-chestnut head with a thin whitish eye ring with a small area of bare gray skin behind the eye. Its throat is white and has black tips on the outside of it. The breast is a medium neutral gray, with feather shafts slightly paler and a white belly. It also has chestnut wings to dark brown wings with each feather tucked in so it appears mostly chestnut when folded. The bird sings very high-pitched songs which often last between approximately 1.6 and 2.2 seconds.
Background/discovery
Ground warblers were first discovered in 1959 by an expedition team headed by D.S. Rabor. They conducted walking surveys of 2,000 meters each and recorded all of the bird calls they observed. There were initially two varieties discovered, now called the Cordillera ground warbler (robsonius rabori) and the Bicol ground warbler (robsonius sorsogonensis). The latter was first observed in 1961. The physical distinctions between them are mainly different coloration and geographic range. Originally, they had been classified as a member of the Nathopera genus because it was believed they were closely related to southeast Asian Napothera blabbers. They were later lumped into the same species, but afterwards morphological evidence, behavioral observations, and the phylogeny of these birds led to their reclassification into a different genus, Robsonius, within the Timaliidae family. In 2013, a new species was discovered: the Sierra Madre ground warbler (robsonius thompsoni). There are two other subspecies of the ground warbler: mesoluzonica and another from the Camarines Sur.
Diet
The diet of the Cordillera ground warbler is primarily invertebrates, it has been sighted scouring forest floors for prey hidden under leaves.
Breeding habits and nesting
Very little is known about the Cordillera ground warblers breeding method. The nest are mostly found on rock cliffs, made up of wet sticks, branches, and leaves. The nest is a dome shape and has an entrance way in it. The dome is held up by twigs attached to the rock and mud that surrounds it.
Populated area
The Cordillera ground warbler are found in the Luzon Island complex. They are found in the northern Luzon in the Cordillera Central and the northern Sierra Madre. Typically, they remain within low-land forest and secondary growth areas, between sea-level and 1300m.
Conservation
This species is currently being protected within the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park. Proposed efforts have been put forth to monitor the species further, and obtain information about how it can further be protected, however no other efforts are being used.