Bugun Liocichla

Drawing of a Bugunhäherlings ( Liocichla bugunorum )

The Bugunhäherling ( Liocichla bugunorum ) is an East Asian species of the family of babblers, which was first described in 2006 and has extended the existing three kinds of species of Liocichla about a fourth. They may form a super species with the Omeihäherling ( Liocichla omeiensis ) and the Formosahäherling ( Liocichla steeri ).

The species was discovered by the Indian astronomer Ramana Athreya in January 1995 in a nature reserve in Arunachal Pradesh. Only in 2006, he could watch it again. It turned out that it is closely related to the endemic in a mountainous region of Southwest China Omeihäherling, but in several features clearly different from this. The species was described because of their presumed rarity, without - as is often the case - to kill the type specimen.

Description

Appearance

The Bugunhäherling is about the size of a thrush with 22 cm length. It is colored predominantly olive gray. Throat, reins, the rear sides of the head and chest and flanks are more intense yellowish green tinge. The head cap is black and shows a narrow foothills toward the eye, which interrupts the wide, golden yellow eyes Streif. The large coverts are orange to golden yellow. The otherwise blackish primaries are lined with golden yellow. The secondaries are like the shock dark to black and wearing a bright red top. The tail underside is orange-red in the male. The female is generally less colored high contrast, which in the male are red areas less than or - on the underside of tail - yellow. Within its range of Bugunhäherling is unmistakable.

Voice

The voice is described as a characteristic flute which is pulled something at the end.

Abundance and status

So far, only two occurrences in Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh in India. However, the habitat requirements of the species have accepted a further occurrence in this province and in neighboring Bhutan and China suggest. So far there has been sought without success to the type. It is believed that the species is very rare, as they would have been unlikely to be overlooked because of their colorful appearance and the characteristic cry. IUCN, the species is therefore listed as endangered ( vulnerable ).