Alternative names: Brown-headed Babbler: Brown-headed Tree-Babbler
- Malacopteron magnirostre
Identification
18cm. A plain, hook-billed Babbler:
- Dull brown above, whitish below, cinereocapilla with dark crown
- Dark submoustachial area
- Dull chestnut tail
- Grey hooked bill
Similar species
Sooty-capped Babbler has a much darker crown and lacks submoustachial dark stripe.
Distribution
Found from extreme south Burma and south Thailand south to peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra and Borneo.
Rare in Singapore, common in most of its range.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies recognized:
A third proposed race from Anambas Island, flavum, is usually merged with the nominate.
Habitat
Primary broadleaf evergreen forest, also regenerating forest and heavily or selectively logged forest. Found up to 900m in Thailand and Malaysia, 800m in Sumatra and sometimes 1220m in Borneo.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects.
Usually seen in small groups, sometimes together with other species. Forages in middle storey, gleaning foliage.
Breeding season from October to January (maybe longer) in Borneo, February to August on mainland Asia and Sumatra. The nest is an open cup, placed around 1m above the ground in a sapling. Lays 2 eggs.
Resident species.
References
- Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
- 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) Moustached Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Moustached_Babbler
