FLOWERPECKER 6/11 - Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker

 

A sure see bird in TRA. This happy go lucky bird will be found among the low vegetation along the riverside. Their familiar busy whit-whit call is very distinct. Approachable upto 10ft when they are obliging.......

People will think that it has a bloody injured breast but not to worry it is their macho mark. The female also have the red crown but body is just plain olive to yellow.

PHILENTOMA 2/2 - Maroon-breasted Philentoma

Maroon-breasted Philentoma (MBP)

This is the cousin to the Rufous-winged Philentoma. Both are part of the flycatcher family. Because of the broader beak with a curved tip of the Maroon it now being considered to be grouped in helmeted-shrike family.

The Maroon-breasted Philentoma is also bigger and slender at 20cm. The pictures here is the female. The male has this maroon patch breast below a black upper throat and sides of head otherwise the bird is of dull blue plumage. Hope to see the male soon.

The female MBP can be mistaken for the Blue morph RWP if you do not know the tell tale signs which include:-
1.  MBP  has broad beak with curved tip compared to the straight and sharp beak of the latter.
2.  MBP vent is uniformly blue whilst the latter is whitish to buff.
3. Size of course is a factor but in the field you seldom see them together.  

 

 

These are birds of the virgin lowland forest like Bukit Rengit and Merapoh to name a few. Both species of Philentomas, seldom feed together or in contact, If you see one subspecies you can expect to  see other in these same location but at different canopy level. The Maroon prefers the middle to upper storey of the trees looking down on you  whilst the Rufous you can shoot it at eye level. So it is more rare to see the former than the other. The presence of both species of birds in the area can be alerted by their calls...................











Finally in the month of June 2015 I was back in Taman Negara and this time the male MBP showed up quite willingly with the female in tow. Nesting and feeding was seen in the undergrowth in a dark section of the trail 2km from the bridge. Did venture from the fringe opening but better not to disturb it for its sake.

DOVE 7/9 - Red-collared dove aka Red Turtle Dove

Red Collared Dove


Running thru some of my old pictures and walla a lifer of a dove. Nothing fantastic. Red-collared Dove is specific to a locale. In peninsula it is more commonly seen in northern part Chuping-Jitra flat lands, coastal side of Johor and Melaka.

This species of dove, with a round body and short tail, measures 23 centimetres. Males have a black bill, grey head with a dark stripe on the back of the neck, red-brown body, black wing and tail tips and a pinkish light brown underside.Females are dull brown.

Mating takes place from April to July. Their bulare nests are built on tree branches using twigs. Each clutch usually consists of two white eggs. They are seed and berries eaters.

My new sighting in Batang Tiga Melaka Decmeber 2018

Another find in Langkap PadiField Oct2022

DOVE 6/9 - Little Cuckoo Dove

Little Cuckoo Dove

This dove is not really that small at 29cm or a footer. It is a common dove to see in the many submontane forest in peninsula Malaysia. Apparently there are 8 races of this subspecies Ours is the Malayana.

It's head & nape is cinnamon; neck & upper mantle vaguely glossed green & lilac, some feather shaving dark subterminal bars. Mantle to rump dark brown, very obscurely barred on the mantle. Wing shields blackish brown with broad chestnut fringes. Flight feathers blackish brown. central tail feathers dark brown with bold dark black subterminal band. Throat pale yellow buff, rest of underparts cinnamon shading into chestnut on the undertail coverts, flanks & wing lining. breast tinged vinous & many feathers of the breast & upper belly with broad creamy buff tips giving a mottled appearance. iris greyish white to bluish white. Eye cere dark grey; bill brown at base blackish tip; legs & feet coral red.

 Female: differs from male in the dark chestnut crown is spotted with black mostly on the forehead. Neck yellow buff barred black & lacking iridescence. Wing coverts more broadly fringed chestnut. Ear coverts yellow buff speckled black. Throat pale buff with feathers around it edged blackish. Upper breast feathers pale basally, blackish laterally & subterminally & variably tipped chestnut which gives a mottled appearance. Belly more yellow rufous vaguely barred. Bill blacker than in male; feet & legs duller purplish red. Juvenile: similar to females but having a more barred & mottled appearance.

Nesting: single buff, cream or white egg laid; incubation 12-17 days; fledgling another couple of weeks.

PHILENTOMA 1/2 - Rufous-winged Philentoma

 

 Rufous-winged Philentoma

Another amazing catch in the old hunt. Bird life have been in a doldrum here where ground clearing and deforestation is continuing in front of Perhilitan frontyard but nothing is been done. SOS to Elizabeth W

Sometimes it is best to walk up and down the track as such rarely seen bird pop out out of the green. The RWP looks like Asian Paradise at first glance but lack full brown wings and is the size of the common Black-naped Monarch in Bkt Rengit of about 6 inches or so.

Now this Juvenile was seen together with its Dad. Its beaks is a pale of pink and yet to turn dark. The Mum is no where to be seen. So its the job of the dad to teach it the ropes I guess...............

I notice Philentoma tends to cling to vertical growth besides horizontal branches unlike flycatchers or bulbuls.