Animalia Life

Rhabdornis inornatus
TAXONOMY
Rhabdornis inornatus Ogilvie-Grant, 1896.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Plain-headed rhabdornis, plain-headed creeper; French: Rhabdornis б tкte brune; German: Braunkopf-Rhabdornis; Spanish: Trepador Filipino de Cabeza Lisa.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
These birds are 6.3 in (16 cm) long, and weigh about 3 oz (86 g). As with its bigger relative, the sexes show little in the way of color differences. Both sexes have a black bill, dark brown eyes, and legs ranging from grayish yellow to horn. The upperparts are medium-brown, while the crown, tail, and primaries are darker brown. The mask is dark brown, bordered above and below by white. The throat is grayish white and the center of the belly is white, while the breast, flanks, and undertail feathers are streaked white and brown. The female has lighter brown upperparts and mask.
DISTRIBUTION
Endemic to the islands of Samar, Basilan, Leyte, Mindanao, Negros, and Panay.
HABITAT
Prefers tropical forest over 2,600 ft (800 m) above sea level, but will sometimes range into lower levels.
BEHAVIOR

BEHAVIOR
is similar to that of the stripe-headed rhabdornis, but stripe-breasteds prefer smaller foraging flocks of 4–5 individuals. The birds will sometimes roost in large numbers in the isolated canopy of a group of trees in a clearing. The call is a highpitched note of “tzit” repeated often, sometimes in a rapid staccato.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Forages in middle to higher altitude forests, but may range lower. Its diet covers a wide selection of insects and fruits. On Mindanao, field researchers saw one individual snag and eat a tree frog. In eastern Mindanao, residents witnessed over 100 Rhabdornis inornatus individuals gathering in a great flock to flycatch among seasonal swarms of flying insects.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Nests in April; enlarged gonads in March and April. Eggs not described.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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