Spotted elachura facts for kids
The spotted elachura (Elachura formosa) is a small, unique bird. It lives in the forests of the eastern Himalayas and parts of Southeast Asia. For a long time, scientists thought it was a type of babbler bird. But recent studies showed it's actually very different and special. Because of this, it now has its very own bird family!
Quick facts for kids Spotted elachura |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Elachura
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| Species: |
formosa
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| Synonyms | |
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Spelaeornis formosus |
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What Does the Spotted Elachura Look Like?
This little bird is only about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long. That's about the length of a pen! It has a short tail.
Its body is mostly dark brown. Its wings and tail have a reddish-brown color, which is called rufous. The spotted elachura gets its name from the white speckles all over its body. On its wings and tail, these speckles turn into black stripes or bars.
Where Does the Spotted Elachura Live?
You can find the spotted elachura in several countries. These include Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, and Vietnam.
This bird prefers to live in special kinds of forests. These are called subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. "Montane" means they are found in mountains.
The spotted elachura likes to hide in the thick plants close to the ground. It often chooses places with lots of ferns, mossy rocks, and fallen tree trunks. You might also find it near streams or creeks, in long grass, or in dense bushes.
A Special Bird Family
For many years, the spotted elachura was thought to be part of the babbler bird family. Its scientific name was Spelaeornis formosus.
However, in 2014, scientists used new methods to study bird DNA. This type of study is called molecular phylogenetics. They found that the spotted elachura was very different from babblers. It was so unique that it didn't have any close living relatives among other passerine birds.
Because of this discovery, scientists created a brand new family just for this one bird! This new family is called Elachuridae. When a family has only one species, it's called a monotypic taxon. This shows how truly special the spotted elachura is in the bird world.
