Malayan Whistling-Thrush
Myophonus robinsoni
Dark bluish thrush-like bird with a bright yellow bill. Found solely in the highlands of peninsular Malaysia. Lacks “spangled” look of Blue Whistling-Thrush. Found in hilly or montane forests, where it favors wet stony areas around streams or gullies. Call is a high sharp whistle, somewhat akin to brakes squealing.
Identification
The species is monotypic. Its length is 25–26 cm (9.8–10.2 in). The length of the wings of the male is 14–15 cm (5.5–5.9 in). The wing length of the female is 13 cm (5.1 in). Its weight is 87–105 g (3.1–3.7 oz). The male is mostly black-blue. Parts of the head are deep purplish-blue. There is a patch of metallic blue in the lesser coverts. The male and female are very similar. The female is slightly browner and slightly smaller. The juvenile is sootier.
Taxonomy
The Malayan whistling thrush was collected by H. C. Robinson and described as Myiophoneus robinsoni by William Robert Ogilvie-Grant in 1905. The specific name is derived from Robinson's surname.
- Scientific name
- Myophonus robinsoni
- Authority
- Ogilvie-Grant, 1905
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Myophonus
Range and habitat
Its natural habitat is montane forests. It is usually found near streams. It is situated at elevations of about 750–1,750 m (2,460–5,740 ft) in central peninsular Malaysia. The Malayan whistling thrush historically ranged from the Cameron Highlands to the Genting Highlands. It was present in the Cameron Highlands, where it was trapped in the 1950s and 1960s, but a further survey in 2009–2010 failed to find it there, bringing into question the reliability of intermediate sightings; it is possible that there may have been confusion with the subspecies dicrorhynchus of the blue whistling thrush (Myophonus caeruleus). Since 1980, it has been trapped and recorded with certainty only in Fraser's Hill.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Its call is a tseee. Its song contains "fluty and scratchy notes". Its diet is probably insects. Breeding has been observed in March and September. The clutch size is 1–2 eggs. The eggs are bluish-grey with pinkish-brown specks. The nest is built of dried plant material and is in a half-cup shape.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
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