Pied Triller

Scientific Name: Lalage nigra
Malay Name: Selancang Melayu
Chinese Name: 黑鸣鹃鵙

Range:
Breeding Range: (OR) Malay Peninsula to Philippines

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: davisoni, striga, nigra.

Local Subspecies: striga

Size: 17-18 cm

Identification:
Male has foreheard, crown, nape, mantle glossy black, supercilium white, lores black. Wing mainly black apart from white median, greater coverts and white fringed secondaries, underparts white. Female has black on body of males replaced by grey, white edges and margins on wing feathers narrower than in male, underparts washed buff with narrow scaling. 

Similar looking species: Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Ashy Minivet

Habitat: Frequents open woodland, especially parks. 

Behaviour/Ecology: Forages at most levels of trees, but prefers canopy. Known to consume both insects and small fruit. 

Local Status: Uncommon resident

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2018)

Location: Most lightly wooded parks in Singapore – recorded from Singapore Botanic Gardens, Tampines Eco-green, Southern Ridges, Kent Ridge Park.

Featured articles:

Pied Triller. Photo credit: Keita Sin
Female Pied Triller at Lorong Halus. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Pied Triller. Photo credit: Goh Cheng Teng
Pied Triller. Photo credit: Goh Cheng Teng
Male Pied Triller at Chinese Garden. Photo credit: Francis Yap
External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Pied Triller)
References:
BirdLife International. (2018). Lalage nigra. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22706651A130421238.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.