Scientific Name: Pellorneum malaccense
Malay Name: Kekicau Ekor Pendek Biasa
Chinese Name: 短尾雅鹛
Range: Found from the Thai-Malay Peninsula to Sumatra and Borneo
Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: malaccense, saturatum, poliogene.
Size: 13.5-15.5 cm
Identification: Adult has short tail, black moustachial, grey ear-coverts, white throat and long pink feet. Juvenile resembles adult but has browner head-sides.
Similar looking species: Abbott's Babbler, Moustached Babbler
Habitat: Tropical moist lowland forests.
Behaviour/Ecology: Forages in the understory and on the forest floor for insects.
Local Status: Uncommon resident
Conservation Status: Near Threatened (BirdLife International 2021)
Location: Central Catchment Forest.
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Short-tailed Babbler at Range Link. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Short-tailed Babbler at Range Link. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Short-tailed Babbler at Sime Forest. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Short-tailed Babbler at Rifle Range Link. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Short-tailed Babbler at Range Link. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Short-tailed Babbler)
References:
BirdLife International. (2021). Pellorneum malaccense. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22715834A206014110.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
Wells, D. R. (1999). The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula (Vol. 1). Academic Press, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Short-tailed Babbler. Retrieved on July 19, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/short-tailed-babbler.