Pomatorhinus

Pomatorhinus
File:Pomatorhinus ruficollis.jpg
Taiwan Scimitar Babbler
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Timaliidae
Genus:	Pomatorhinus Horsfield, 1821
species
see text

Pomatorhinus is a genus of scimitar babblers, jungle birds with long downcurved bills. These are birds of tropical Asia, with the greatest number of species occurring in hills of the Himalayas.

These are medium-sized, floppy-tailed landbirds with soft plumage. They are typically long-tailed, dark brown above, and white or orange-brown below. Many have striking head patterns, with a broad black band through the eye, bordered with white above and below.

They have strong legs and are quite terrestrial. Like other babblers, these are noisy birds, and the characteristic bubbling calls are often the best indication that these birds are present. As with other babbler species, they frequently occur in groups of up to a dozen, and the rainforest species like Indian Scimitar Babbler often occur in the mixed feeding flocks typical of tropical Asian jungle.

Species

• Coral-billed Scimitar-Babbler, Pomatorhinus ferruginosus
• Red-billed Scimitar-Babbler, Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps
• Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler, Pomatorhinus superciliaris
• Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, Pomatorhinus ruficollis
• Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler, Pomatorhinus musicus
• Chestnut-backed Scimitar-Babbler, Pomatorhinus montanus
• White-browed Scimitar-Babbler, Pomatorhinus schisticeps
• Indian Scimitar-Babbler, Pomatorhinus horsfieldii
• Sri Lanka Scimitar-Babbler, Pomatorhinus melanurus

References

• 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.

This article is part of Project Bird Genera, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each genus, including made-up genera.