Pellorneum

Pellorneum is a genus of passerine birds in the family Pellorneidae. These birds are commonly known as tree-babblers. They are found in Southeast Asia, inhabiting forests and scrublands. The genus currently contains six species, though taxonomic classification is ongoing and subject to change.

The species within Pellorneum are characterized by their generally plain brown plumage, often with some streaking or spotting on the breast and flanks. They are typically small to medium-sized birds, measuring between 15 and 20 centimeters in length. Their bills are usually stout and somewhat downcurved, adapted for foraging in leaf litter and on bark.

Pellorneum species are primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. They are often observed foraging solitarily or in pairs, moving through the undergrowth or lower strata of the forest. Their songs can be varied, often consisting of simple whistles or trills.

Nesting habits are not extensively documented for all species, but generally, they build cup-shaped nests in dense vegetation, often low to the ground. The eggs are typically white or pale, sometimes with spotting.

The genus Pellorneum was first described by the English naturalist Edward Blyth in 1842. Historically, some species were placed in other babbler genera, but genetic and morphological studies have led to their current classification within Pellorneum and the family Pellorneidae, which was established to separate these birds from the true babblers of the Leiothrichidae family.