Puff-throated Babbler
The Puff-throated Babbler or Spotted Babbler
is a species of passerine bird found in Asian region with population variations
has led to nearly thirty subspecies being described. In Malaysia it is found in
the northern peninsula from Perak upto Perlis. They are found in scrub and
moist forest mainly upto 1,800m of hilly regions. It can be heard and seen at
plantation fringes. I got my lifer near a rubber estate enroute to Bukit Wang
forest reserve. For the matter I got detoured from NS highway exiting early to
Kuala Nerang. Then heard the familiar loud and distinct call of the BTB whilst
slowing down at a T-junction. It took me almost an hour to locate one of them.
Just lucky it turn out that way. Puff-throated Babblers vocalize often. Their calls are a series of whistling notes ascending in scale - the common call "wi-chu" or "wi-ti -chu" The calling can be persistent. Their repetiore include their morning song, contact and alarm calls so you should have the right playback to lure it out from the undergrowth.
They are gregarious and forage in small groups on the forest floor, turning around leaf litter to find their prey and usually staying low in the undergrowth where they can be hard to spot. Puff-throated Babblers have strong legs, and spend a lot of time on the forest floor. They have weak flight because of their rounded short wings. They can often be seen creeping through undergrowth in search of their insect food, looking at first glance like a Song Thrush. It is considered a common babbler in peninsula.
The breeding season is mainly during the rainy season. They build a nest on the ground at the base of bush and is a dome of leaves and twigs with an entrance on the side. The opening usually pointing downhill when the nest is on slopy ground. The clutch varies from 2 to 5 eggs, with northern populations tending towards larger clutches. Parent birds run rodent-like in the undergrowth as they move in and out of the nest. Young birds fledge and leave the nest about 12 to 13 days after hatching.
Other recorded sighting is at Gunung Jerai Kulim and Kuala Kangsar. Just listen for its call.......good luck. I now need to find my last babbler Grey-breasted Babbler...................
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