Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
CHESTNUT CAPPED LAUGHINGTHRUSH
The Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus mitratus) is a medium-sized bird native to Sumatra and the Thai-Malay Peninsula, thriving in montane forests. It has a chestnut-colored crown, slate-gray body, and a distinct white eyering. Known for its repetitive calls, it often moves in mixed-species flocks, foraging for insects, berries, and seeds. It breeds between March and May in Peninsular Malaysia, building cup-shaped nests in dense vegetation. Due to habitat loss, its conservation status is Near Threatened. A beautiful species that plays an important role in forest ecosystems!
SILVER EARED MESIA
Monday, January 1, 2024
LESSER SHORTWING
Fraser Hill
The Lesser Shortwing (Brachypteryx leucophrys) is a small, elusive bird found in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia. It thrives in subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, often at altitudes between 900 and 1,900 meters. This bird is known for its shy nature, preferring dense undergrowth near water sources.
Physically, it measures about 11–13 cm in length. Its plumage varies: adults typically have reddish-brown upperparts and whitish underparts, with dark yellow flanks and a mottled chest. Females tend to have darker yellow underparts, while juveniles display streaked and mottled patterns. The bird's pale eyebrows and dark yellow eye circles are distinctive features.
Diet-wise, the Lesser Shortwing is carnivorous, feeding on insects like beetle pupae, grubs, and snails. During the breeding season, which spans October to April, it builds sac-shaped nests near the ground, often on mossy cliffs or shrubs. These nests house 1–2 eggs, which are gray-green and glossy.
This bird is categorized as "Least Concern" by conservation standards, though habitat destruction poses a threat to its population.
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (LC)
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