Black-browed Babbler
Malacocincla perspicillata
A brownish babbler, with strong bill and distinctive facial pattern. Upperparts, belly and crown are reddish brown, black "mask" with short and distinctive patch between bill and eyes, pale gray throat, and darker gray chest with very faint streaking. Endemic to primary and secondary forest on the limestone karst to the east of Meratus range in Borneo, previously only known from one specimen from the 19th century before being rediscovered in 2020. Found singly or pairs, not known to join mixed flocks. Creeps around in vines and undergrowth near cliffs, gleaning on leaves and exploring crevices for food. Vocalizations are loud, consisting of a repeated series of chattering notes up and down "chi-po-pyu", often in duet, the other individual responding "pyok pyok pyok" monotonously during the second half of the song.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Malacocincla perspicillata
- Authority
- (Bonaparte, 1850)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pellorneidae
- Genus
- Malacocincla
Range and habitat
The natural habitat of M. perspicillata is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, at altitudes of 200–1,170 m (660–3,840 ft).<p>Its rediscovery in 2020 confirmed that the bird is from southeast Borneo.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
The conservation status of M. perspicillata is insufficiently known. It was formerly classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, but due to the lack of information surrounding the species, its status was changed to Data Deficient in 2008. The songbird is threatened by agriculture, logging allowed within protected areas, plantations for rubber and palm oil, and drought fires. Within the next few years, there is risk of near complete loss of dryland lowland forest in Kalimantan.<p>In October 2020, M. perspicillata was rediscovered in South Kalimantan by two local men, Muhammad Suranto and Muhammad Rizky Fauzan, 170 years after the last confirmed sighting.<p>Interest in the rediscovery has drawn birdwatchers to the area and added to knowledge of the bird's behaviour, such as: "moving in and out of the limestone caves and crevices, clambering about in the rugged environment to hunt insects and other invertebrates", and its song: "a unique, loud and melodious vocalisation, often sounded in a duet."
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
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