Chetnut-winged Shrike Babbler   Pteruthius aeralatus validirostris

Etymology:

• Pteruthius :Greek word pteron –wing;  eruthaino– to dye red { Red Winged}

• Aeralatus: Latin aes, aeris bronze; latus flank, side  {Bronze sided}

• Validirostris : Latin validus  strong, stout  < valere  to be strong; –rostris  -billed  from rostrum– beak

They belong to the family of old-world Babblers and also known as Pied shrike babbler.

Distribution in India: Resident of Eastern Himalayas in India

Description:  Size of 13-15 cm; wt. of 29–44 g. It is a medium-sized shrike-babbler with chestnut on tertials. The male is black-crowned and white below, with bold white rear supercilium and grey upperparts. It has tertials all dark chestnut and pinkish-brown tinge on lower flanks The female is grey on head with green fringes on wings and tail. It has a distinct grey on crown and white postocular supercilium.

Habitat: It is found in broadleaf evergreen forest, oak-rhododendron forest, coniferous forest, montane forest.

Food Habits:  They eat Insects, including grasshoppers and locustids, moths and caterpillars and beetles. Sometimes they also eat berries.

Breeding Habits: The breeding season is April- June. This babbler builds its nest as a loose or neat dome, with top entrance, made of coarse grasses and dead bamboo. It lays a clutch of 3-5 eggs. The Chicks are Precocial (with open eyes and down feathers). They are fed insects for faster growth and water content. The chicks grow faster and leave the nest within 2 weeks.