Thai National Parks

The moustached babbler (Malacopteron magnirostre) is a species of bird in the ground babbler family Pellorneidae. The species is also known as the brown-headed babbler or brown-headed tree-babbler.

Taxonomy and systematics

This species has two subspecies, the nominate race M. m. magnirostre and the subspecies M. m. cinereocapilla (Salvadori, 1868). A third subspecies, flavum, from the Anamba Islands, is sometimes recognised but is usually merged into the nominate race. The specific name magnirostre comes from the Latin magnus for big and rostris for billed. The name for the subspecies cinereocapilla comes from the Latin cinereus for ash/ashy and capillus for headed.

Distribution and habitat

The moustached babbler is found in Sundaland. The nominate race is found in southern Burma and Thailand through Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, and the subspecies M. m. cinereocapilla is endemic to Borneo. Formerly, it could be found in the forests of Singapore, but it is now likely extinct there.

Its natural habitat is tropical moist primary lowland forests, peatswamp forest, secondary forest, logged forests and old rubber plantations, from 915 m, rarely to 1200 m. It is suggested that this species, since it prefers logged forest to primary forest, could be used as a habitat indicator.

Description

The moustached babbler is 18 cm long and weighs between 16 - 25 g. The plumage is dull brown above and whitish below. The crown is olive-brown in the nominate race, with a grey loral stripe and .

Behaviour

The moustached babbler feeds on insects, including on beetles and locusts. They feed in mid-story, from 4 – 6 m off the ground.

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