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.