Scaly-breasted Illadopsis Illadopsis albipectus

A chunky, mid-sized, remarkably drab babbler. Most birds show some darker scaling on the breast, though this is difficult to see without a good view. Found in the understory of rainforest at low and middle elevations. Shy and skulking; rarely seen unless searched for. Very similar to other illadopsises, and most readily distinguished by voice, though scaly-breasted birds are distinctive. Most often detected by voice. The distinctive song is far less variable than that of many other illadopsis species. It consists of one or two introductory “tek” notes followed by three or four whistles in a rising pattern, often repeated for long periods.