Zul Ya - Birds of Peninsular Malaysia: July 2024

Monday, July 15, 2024

CHESNUT CROWNED LAUGHING THRUSH

Sunday, July 14, 2024

FIRE TUFTED BARBET

BURUNG TAKUR JAMBANG API

Fire-tufted Barbet (Psilopogon pyrolophus)

Cameron Highland

The Fire-tufted Barbet is a striking bird native to Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra. It inhabits tropical moist lowland and montane forests, typically at elevations between 1,070 and 2,010 meters.

This medium-sized bird measures about 28 cm in length. Its plumage is predominantly green, with a brownish-maroon nape, gray lores, and a white band on its forehead. Its throat is green, followed by a bright yellow band and a black "necklace-like" band. The bill is fawn-colored with a black vertical stripe, and males have fiery orange tufts of feathers at the base of their beak, which give the bird its name.

The Fire-tufted Barbet feeds on figs, other fruits, arthropods, and insects. Its call is unique, resembling the sound of cicadas. While it is not currently threatened and is listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List, illegal capture for the pet trade poses a potential risk to its population.

IUCN Red List - Least Concern

CINTAI ALAM SEMULAJADI FLORA DAN FAUNA

BLUE WINGED MINLA

Cameron Highland

SLATY BACKED FORKTAIL

BURUNG MURAI CEGAR BERJALUR

Slaty-backed Forktail (Enicurus schistaceus)

Cameron Highland

The Slaty-backed Forktail is a slim, medium-sized bird found in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, including the Himalayas, Southeast Asia, and southern China. It is often seen near fast-flowing streams and rivers, where it hunts small invertebrates by hopping among rocks or flying over the water.

This bird measures about 22–25 cm in length and weighs between 26–38 grams. Its plumage is a striking mix of slate-gray, black, and white. It has a slate-gray forehead, crown, and mantle, a black throat, and a narrow white stripe across its face. The tail is long and deeply forked, with black and white bands, giving it a distinctive appearance.

The Slaty-backed Forktail breeds between February and July, laying 3–4 eggs in nests built near water. Both sexes participate in incubating the eggs. It is generally solitary but may be seen in pairs or family groups during the breeding season.

This bird is classified as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List,

IUCN Red List - Least Concern (LC)

ORANGE BELLIED LEAFBIRD

Cameron Highland

LITTLE CUCKOO DOVE

Cameron Highland

Saturday, July 13, 2024

WHITE CROWNED HORNBILL

BURUNG ENGGANG JAMBUL PUTIH

White crowned Hornbill (Berenicornis comatus)

Cameron Highland

The White-crowned Hornbill, also known as the long-crested hornbill, is a fascinating bird native to Southeast Asia, including the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. It is a large hornbill species, measuring about 83–102 cm in length and weighing between 1.3–1.5 kg.

This bird has striking black-and-white plumage. Its head, neck, breast, and tail are white, while the rest of its body is black. The "white crown" refers to the bushy crest of white feathers on its head. It also has bare dark blue skin around its eyes and throat, and its bill is mostly black with a yellowish base. Males are predominantly white from the head to the belly, while females have black necks and underparts.

White-crowned Hornbills are omnivorous, feeding on fruits, lizards, arthropods, and larvae. They inhabit rainforests at low and medium altitudes, usually below 900 meters, and can sometimes be found in plantations. These birds are social and often forage in flocks.

Their nesting behavior is unique: the female seals herself inside a tree cavity using mud and debris, leaving only a small hole through which the male and other group members feed her and the chicks. Once the chicks are ready to fly, the female breaks out of the nest.

White-crowned Hornbill is classified as "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List due to habitat destruction and declining forest areas.

Note: While driving down from Cameron Highland, I suddenly saw a pair of hornbills, flying to land on a roadside tree. I immediately stopped the car and immediately reached for the camera to take a picture of this pair of birds before they flew to the next mountain valley.

IUCN Redlist 2018 - Endangered (EN)

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JAVAN SHORTWING @ WHITE BROWED SHORTWING

BURUNG MURAI ALIS PUTIH

Javan Shortwing (Brachypteryx montana)

Cameron Highland - 11/07/2024

This was the first time I was able to take a photo of this bird. I found it active on the forest floor with low light canopy and mossy weather. It moved quickly from tree to tree on the surface of this highland canopy. The color of the bird is black from the head to the back half of the body, and part of the body up to the tail is slightly brown with white striped eyebrows.

The Javan shortwing (Brachypteryx montana) (formerly the white-browed shortwing) is a species of bird that is placed in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the island of Java where it favours montane forests.

Source: Wikipedia

IUCN Redlist 2018 - Least Concern (LC)

CINTAI ALAM SEMULAJADI FLORA DAN FAUNA KITA