Long-tailed Sibia

The long-tailed sibia (Heterophasia picaoides) is a species of Leiothrichidae from Southeast Asia. The species was once placed in the large family Timaliidae, but that family is sometimes split with this species being placed with the laughingthrushes in the family Leiothrichidae. The species is sometimes treated as the only species in the genus Heterophasia, with the other species being placed in the genus Malacias. (Wikipedia, general species account).

Distribution and habitat The long-tailed sibia is found from the Himalayas through South East Asia and Sumatra. It is found in evergreen forest, oak and pine forests, secondary growth, scrub with large trees and forest edge habitats. Babblers and their close allies are generally active passerines of forest, scrub or undergrowth. Many travel in pairs, family parties or mixed-species flocks while searching foliage, bark and leaf litter for invertebrates, sometimes adding fruit or seeds. Voice and social behaviour are often useful identification clues. These are family-level notes rather than Vietnam-specific breeding measurements (general babbler ecology).