Babblers and Allies

The Babbler clade includes Babblers (Timaliidae), Ground Babblers (Pellorneidae), White-eyes (Zosteropidae) and Laughingthrushes (Leiothrichidae) are part of Sylvioidea placed in Order Passeriformes, see Taxonomy note below. Their size ranges from the very small to medium-sized birds. These families generally inhabit wooded areas.

Babblers, White-eyes and Laughingthrushes

Buff-breasted Babbler (Pellorneum tickelli) foraging for insects at Frasers Hill in Malaysia

White-chested Babbler (Trichastoma rostratum) perched in a tree at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Pin-striped Tit-Babbler (Macronus gularis) in a shrub at the Sundial Garden in Singapore Botanical Gardens

Mauritius Grey White-eye (Zosterops mauritianus) foraging for insects at Le Morne Peninsula

Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis vegetus) at Peterson Creek in Yungaburra, Atherton Tablelands

Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis pinarochrous) perched in a bush at Lincoln National Park in South Australia

Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) perched on a tree in Dunedin Botanic Gardens, New Zealand

White-crested Laughingthrush (Garrulax leucolophus) on the ground at Bukit Batok Nature Park

Mountain Fulvetta (A lcippe peracensis) perched in a bush at Frasers Hill in Malaysia

Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush (Garrulax mitratus major) perched at Frasers Hill in Malaysia

Babblers, White-eyes, and Laughingthrushes Notes

All featured species are ‘Red List 2019’ assessed as ‘Least Concern’ except for the ‘Near Threatened’ White-chested Babbler and Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush. I think the White-Chested Babbler is an immature bird. Silvereyes are Australasian endemics; the first time I encountered this species was in the Dunedin Botanic Gardens in New Zealand. It is the nominate race. Featured subspecies: Zosterops lateralis vegetus and Z.i. pinarochrous photographed in Queensland and South Australia respectively.

White-eyes, Babblers and Laughingthrushes Taxonomy

The figure shows a simplified taxonomy family tree relevant to Babblers, White-eyes, and Laughingthrushes photo album.

J Boyd’s Taxonomy in Flux Checklist places these families in Sylvioidea, which comprises:
(a) Babblers (Timaliidae),
(b) Ground Babblers (Pellorneidae),
(c) White-eyes (Zosteropidae),
(d) and Laughingthrushes (Leiothrichidae).

Sylvioidea includes many existing families in the Sibley and Monroe and other authorities’ checklists.