The Visayan pygmy babbler (Dasycrotapha pygmaea) is a bird species endemic to the Philippines on the islands of Leyte and Samar. It was conspecific with the Mindanao pygmy babbler (D. plateni) under the common name of "pygmy babbler".Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests and or tropical moist montane forests.
It belongs to the genus Dasycrotapha. It was placed in the family Timaliidae, but recently found to be better placed in the family Zosteropidae. Apart from its range, It is differentiated by a darker smoky plumage compared to the reddish-brown Mindanao pygmy babbler.
EBird describes the bird as "A small bird of lowland and foothill forest and edge on Leyte and Samar, frequenting middle heights in the forest. Rufous-brown on the crown, back, wings, and tail, with a gray chest and a blackish throat and face, all with fine white streaking. Note white belly and orange eyes.Voice includes a whistled “tweet! wee-too-wee-wit![1]
They have been observed to join mixed species flocks foraging through the middle-storey and lower cannopy. Its diet is presumed to be small insects and possibly small fruits. [2]
This bird is found in primary and secondary forest from 100masl to 1,100. It is present in a protected area in the Samar Island Natural Park. While this area is listed as a national park, protection is lax and illegal logging and habitat encroachment are still rampant.
Conservation actions proposed include further surveys in suitable habitat especially in Leyte to better understand its range and enforcement of laws on illegal loggers in its habitat.[3]