Short-tailed Babbler

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.

Local Subspecies: malaccense

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.

Short-tailed Babbler at Sime Forest. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Short-tailed Babbler at Range Link. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Short-tailed Babbler at Range Link. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Short-tailed Babbler at Range Link. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Short-tailed Babbler at Range Link. 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 (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

Singapore Birds Project. (n.d.). Short-tailed Babbler. Retrieved on June 3, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/short-tailed-babbler.