Alternative names: Rail-babbler; Malay Rail-Babbler; Malay Scrub-robin
- Eupetes macrocerus
Identification
28 - 30cm (11-11¾ in). An unmistakable species:
- Long neck and tail
- Broad white supercilium extending down side of neck
- Broad black line from bill base and lores through and below orbit and along neck side
- Azure patch on side of neck below black line
- Chestnut-red crown, nape and hindneck
- Golden-brown to ochraceous buff plumage
- borneensis with richer brown head and much redder upperparts and tail
Sexes similar, juveniles are duller than adults.
Distribution
Found from south Thailand south on the Malay Peninsula, on Sumatra and Borneo.
Scarce to fairly common in its range.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Two subspecies accepted[1]:
- E. m. macrocerus in Thailand, the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra
- E. m. borneensis in Borneo
For the taxonomic placement of this species see the genus page.
Habitat
Primary forest and logged forest with closed canopy. Also in swamp-forest and heath-forest. Found from lowlands up to 1060m in Malaysia and 900m in Sumatra and Borneo.
Behaviour
Highly terrestrial, usually seen walking on forest floor. Runs away if disturbed rather than flying.
Diet
Feeds on insects.
Breeding
Breeding season from January to June. The nest is a shallow cup made of plant fibres. One was described placed on top of accumulated dead leaves among leaf stalks of a ground plant. Lays 2 eggs.
Movements
Resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Malaysian Rail-babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Malaysian_Rail-babbler
