Black-eared shrike-babbler

Black-eared shrike-babbler
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	see text
Genus:	Pteruthius
Species:	P. melanotis
Binomial name
Pteruthius melanotis Hodgson, 1847

The Black-eared Shrike-babbler (Pteruthius melanotis) is a bird species traditionally considered an aberrant Old World babbler and placed in the family Timaliidae. But as it seems, it belongs to an Asian offshoot of the American vireos and may well belong in the Vireonidae. Indeed, since long it was noted that their habits resemble those of vireos, but this was believed to be the result of convergent evolution.

It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

References

• BirdLife International 2004. Pteruthius melanotis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 27 July 2007.
• Collar, N. J. & Robson, C. 2007. Family Timaliidae (Babblers) Pp. 70 - 291 in; del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Christie, D.A. eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 12. Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.