Which juvenile malkoha? Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo (1 Viewer)

[dixonlau]

Location: Lowland forest, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo
Date: July 2022

Based on no red patch around its eyes, I believe it is still a juvenile/immature. The body size is rather small, about the size of adult Raffles's Malkoha. The only feature I am looking at is its nostril shape. The hole looks quite big. If the nostril doesn't change much when fully grown, it looks like Black-bellied to me. As for the tail, I'm still not good at telling it apart with others malkoha.

Thanks for any help.

 

[nartreb]

As a rule, a bird that is old enough to fly has reached its adult size.

 

[dixonlau]

As a rule, a bird that is old enough to fly has reached its adult size.

Thank you for pointing that out.

 

[andyb39]

Maybe Black-bellied? I found a slightly similar individual here: ML460734831 Black-bellied Malkoha Macaulay Library. I think Chestnut-bellied would look bigger-billed and would have a red eye-patch at this age (on this species, the colour of the eye-patch/orbital skin isn't uniform - it has a paler centre). The brown tones at the tip of the tail are odd - is it a light effect?

 

[dixonlau]

Maybe Black-bellied? I found a slightly similar individual here: ML460734831 Black-bellied Malkoha Macaulay Library. I think Chestnut-bellied would look bigger-billed and would have a red eye-patch at this age (on this species, the colour of the eye-patch/orbital skin isn't uniform - it has a paler centre). The brown tones at the tip of the tail are odd - is it a light effect?

I'm also think it could be Black-bellied based on nostril shape. However, I afraid the shape may change when fully grown and based on 2nd pic, it looks little long slit instead (could be angle effect). I've found another shot (pic #3) with better side view. The nostril is more toward Black-bellied in this shot.

Pic #3


Pic #4


The photo was taken with bright backlight condition. Not sure if the light shine thru the feather could cause the brown tone look of the tail. Sadly, that was the only shot can see most of its tail.

Thank you for the help.

 

[njlarsen]

Check this image from Macaulay and focus on the tip of the tail -- looks similar:

ML205716851 - Black-bellied Malkoha - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML205716851; © Rusman Budi Prasetyo; Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan, Indonesia

macaulaylibrary.org

Niels

 

[dixonlau]

Check this image from Macaulay and focus on the tip of the tail -- looks similar:

ML205716851 - Black-bellied Malkoha - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML205716851; © Rusman Budi Prasetyo; Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan, Indonesia

macaulaylibrary.org

Niels

That is awesome, Niels. Appreciated for the update.

 

[dixonlau]

The brown tones at the tip of the tail are odd - is it a light effect?

Just an update showing brown tones on the tail of an adult taken in different day.