Alternative names: Red-headed Babbler; Greater Red-headed Babbler/Tree-Babber; Larger Red-headed Babbler/Tree-Babbler
- Malacopteron magnum
Identification
18 - 19.5cm. A mid-sized Babbler.
- Dull rufous crown with blackish scaling, becoming all black on hindcrown and nape
- Olive-brown upperparts
- Dull rufous rump and tail
- Pale greyish lores, supercilium, ear-coverts and lower face
- White chin to mid-belly with vague pale greyish streaking
- Plain whitish lower underparts
Sexes similar.
Distribution
Found from extreme south Burma and south Thailand to peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo.
Common in parts of its range (eg. Taman Negara).
Taxonomy
Two subspecies recognized:
- M. m. magnum from extreme south Burma to south Thailand, peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and most of Borneo
- M. m. saba in north Borneo
Has been considered conspecific with Melodious Babbler and may form a superspecies with it.
Habitat
Moist lowland forests. Prefers primary forest. Up to 455m in southeast Asia, 1000m in Borneo and 800m in Sumatra.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects, takes also some seeds..
Usually seen in pairs or small groups, sometimes in bird waves. Forages in middle storey gleaning foliage..
Breeding season May to June in Sumatra, March to October in Borneo and March to May in southeast Asia. The nest is a cup made of dead leaves, grass and dead moss. It's placed up to 1m above the ground in a small sapling or a bush. Lays 2 eggs..
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) Rufous-crowned Babbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Rufous-crowned_Babbler
