Flame-templed Babbler

A small bird found in lowland and hill forest on Panay and Negros. With its complex facial and head pattern that includes white facial streaks, yellow bill, lores, forehead and chin, a black head and the eponymous bright flame brow, it is described as "remarkable" on Birds of the World. It has gray back with pale streaking, a bright yellow chest with black spots. Contrary to its name, this species is closer related to White-eyes and are in the same family as them. Its song is described as a melodic series of 7 to 10 notes with each note getting proggresively louder. It has a soft one note contact call. This species is monotypic and has no subspecies.

The flame-templed babbler inhabits lowland forest, forest edge and secondary growth below 1,000 m, occasionally occurring up to 1,180 m. Highest densities have been recorded in the thick undergrowth of degraded secondary forest and observations come from the lower strata (up to 8 m) in the understory, where birds stay in deep cover and are consequently unobtrusive unless singing. As of 2025, this species has been downlisted by the IUCN Red List to a Near-threatened species. This is not because the population has increased but rather the general belief that this bird is overlooked and not as endangered as originally thought - this species is seen in the highest densities in degraded habitat. The rate of habitat loss is now much lower and has slowed down. In areas where habitat is still good, they occur in high densities of more than 20 birds per square kilometer; however, overall remaining habitat is greatly reduced. It was only fairly recently discovered in Panay in 1987 and is only found in five localities. This species' main threat is habitat loss with wholesale clearance of forest habitats as a result of logging, agricultural conversion and mining activities occurring within the range. Negros Island is one of the most deforested areas in the country due to its sugar industry and logging with most of its forests being totally lost before the 21st century. …

The flame-templed babbler is an omnivore feeding on small insects and berries, flowers and figs. These babblers feed and breed in understory bushes, trees, vines and ferns. Forms mixed flocks with other small birds such as the Visayan fantail, Philippine tailorbird, Lemon-throated leaf warbler, White-vented whistler and Visayan bulbul. It seems to breed almost year round but territorial behaviour most apparent in the months of March to April.