Alternative name: Palawan Babbler
- Malacopteron palawanense
Identification
17 - 18cm. A medium-sized Babbler, similar in appearance to Rufous-crowned Babbler:
- Dull rufescent brown forecrown with vague blackish scaling
- Upperparts rufescent olive-brown
- Dull rufous rump and tail
- Ashy grey lores, supercilium and area around the eye
- Pale greyish-tan on ear-coverts and lower face
- Chin, throat and upper breast silky white with indistinct and sparse grey streaking
- Flanks and breast greyish-buff
- Hooked bill
Sexes similar, juveniles undescribed
Distribution
Endemic to Palawan and Balabac, Philippines.
Restricted-range species, uncommon but still found in some protected areas.
Taxonomy
Monotypic. Sometimes considered conspecific with Rufous-crowned Babbler. May form a superspecies with it.
Habitat
Primary and old secondary lowland evergreen forest. Confined to the lowlands to around 100m.
Behaviour
Possibly feeds on small invertebrates and some vegetable matter.
Usually seen singly or in small groups, foraging in middle and lower storey.
Birds in breeding condition seen in February to March and May. No other information.
Resident species.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- 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. (2025) Melodious Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Melodious_Babbler
