Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler Spelaeornis caudatus Scientific name definitions

A poorly-known and rarely-seen endemic species of the Eastern Himalayan montane forests of India, Nepal, and Bhutan, the monotypic Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler is a member of a genus of wren-babblers (Spelaeornis) that are largely allopatric from each other and replace each other in Asian montane habitats. Inhabiting dense understory, it is difficult to detect except by its loud, conspicuous song, and even then is nearly impossible to see in the dense foliage that it occupies. As a result, almost nothing is known of its behavior and natural history, although knowledge of its song has led to it being detected at a number of sites across its range in recent years. Classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN on account of potential habitat loss within its relatively small range, this article summarizes the little that is known of this unique Himalayan species.