Opportunity came in July 2025 when news arrived by Johor birders that a family of Grey breasted babbler (post nesting) were regularly sighted in Panti at one of the many trails there. You definitely need a local birder to guide you to seek this rarity babbler. As far as I have been birding for 20 years I only know Panti Johor as one site to see this bird in Península abate East Malaysia sighting like at Sabah Poring.
ID - It is a small to medium-sized bird of 12-15cm. It has Gray-breasted plumage as its name with distinct white throat and underparts. Bill is Slightly curved and slender, suitable for insectivorous diet. Eye color is Dark eyes, often appearing bold whote lore and black face. – Wing and tail: Shorter wings and a relatively long tail, which is often held downward. Typically found in pairs or small groups, often foraging in leaf litter or low shrubs in dense undergrowth in humid forests or secondary growth areas. It produces a series of soft, melodious notes; listen for its distinctive vocalization.
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| Photo courtesy of AT |
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| Photo courtesy of ML |
Like many other babblers they respond to your bird call but this bird was a bit skittish in our encounter as there too many distraction from other birders also seeking the bird. It is known to mimic the calls of other bird species, which can sometimes confuse predators!
We got just a window of 20 second or so to shoot in the early morning lighting. My Fuji XT4 failed me as it was not focussing well enough in the low like condition. There were a family of 3 birds we saw during this post nesting period in July. It's mimic unique hopping manner and perch on vertical stump branches like forest Wren babbler showcasing their agility and adaptability.
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