Shrike-babbler

The Shrike-babblers is a group of small birds in the family Pteruthriidae genus Pteruthius. They are native to the Indomalayan ecozone.

Description
The Shrike-babblers range in size from 11.5–20 cm in length and 10-48 g. They are divergent in plumage and size but all possess a stout black hooked bill, short rictal bristles and a distinctive juvenile plumage. They all exhibit sexual dimorphism in plumage, with the males generally brighter. The song is simple and monotonous. Most species are found in montane forests, with some species descending down to lower altitudes during the winter.

None of the species are considered threatened by human activities.

Taxonomy
They were traditionally placed in the family Timaliidae, although genetic work suggests they belong near the otherwise New World family Vireonidae.

Reddy (2008), using the phylogenetic species concept, advocated splitting Pteruthius into 19 species, evidence suggestion that five species is too few. However, Rheindt and Eaton (2009) reexamined the issue taking into consideration plumage, morphology, and vocalizations. Combining both genetic analyses, they suggest Pteruthius contains nine species.

Species

 * Green Shrike-babbler, Pteruthius xanthochlorus
 * Black-eared Shrike-babbler, Pteruthius melanotis
 * Clicking Shrike-babbler, Pteruthius intermedius
 * Trilling Shrike-babbler, Pteruthius aenobarbus
 * Black-headed Shrike-babbler, Pteruthius rufiventer
 * Pied Shrike-babbler, Pteruthius flaviscapis
 * Blyth's Shrike-babbler, Pteruthius aeralatus
 * Himalayan Shrike-babbler, Pteruthius ripleyi
 * Dalat Shrike-babbler, Pteruthius annamensis