White-chested Babbler

Scientific Name: Pellorneum rostratum
Malay Name: Kekicau-Telunjuk Dada Putih
Chinese Name: 白胸雅鹛

Range:
Found from the Thai-Malay Peninsula to Sumatra and Borneo.

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: rostratum, macropterum

Local Subspecies: rostratum

Size: 15-16.5 cm

Identification: Adult has narrow bill, cold brown upperparts and clean white underparts with grey-washed breast-side. Juvenile looks similar to adult.

Habitat: Forest, swamp forest and mangroves.

Ecology/Behaviour: Feeds on small invertebrates taken from the forest floor, mainly in wet areas.

Local Status: Rare resident

Conservation Status: Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)

Location: On the mainland, it may still occur at Nee Soon Swamp Forest. An uncommon resident at suitable habitats in Pulau Tekong.

Photos:

White-chested Babbler from Panti Bird Sanctuary. Photo credit: Con Foley

White-chested Babbler from Panti Bird Sanctuary. Photo credit: Con Foley

White-chested Babbler from Panti Bird Sanctuary. Photo credit: Alan Ng

White-chested Babbler from Panti Bird Sanctuary. Photo credit: Chris Li

White-chested Babbler from Panti Bird Sanctuary. Photo credit: Chris Li

Screen capture of a White-chested Babbler from a video at Pulau Tekong. Photo Credit: Albert Low

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page (BirdLife: Trichastoma rostratum)
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

Reference:
Craig Robson (2011) A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia
David Wells (2007) The Birds of Thai-Malay Peninsula, Volume 2