Rufous-Fronted Babbler

The rufous-fronted babbler is a small, unobtrusive Old World babbler named for the warm rufous colouring of its forehead. Its current scientific placement is Cyanoderma rufifrons, although older sources use Stachyris or Stachyridopsis. Geographic variation is substantial, and populations formerly called Buff-chested Babbler are now commonly included within this species, so plumage details should be interpreted with subspecies and location in mind (Wikipedia; Birds of the World taxonomy summary).

The species ranges from the eastern Himalayan foothills through Myanmar, Thailand and northern Indochina to the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. It is resident in dense forest habitats and gleans invertebrates from vegetation, generally remaining within protective cover. Nine subspecies are recognised in the broad modern treatment, including adjunctum in northern Indochina and insuspectum in southern Laos. Its quiet habits mean calls and close attention to low foliage are often needed for detection (Oiseaux.net; Wikipedia).