Black-browed babbler

Black-browed babbler
	Turnaround video of specimen RMNH 89412, Naturalis Biodiversity Center
Conservation status
	; Data Deficient (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Pellorneidae
Genus:	Malacocincla
Species:	N. perspicillata
Binomial name
	Malacocincla perspicillata; (Bonaparte, 1850)
Synonyms
	Cacopitta (Myiothera) perspicillata ; Bonaparte, 1850; Trichastoma perspicillatum ; — Collar & Andrew, 1988;

The black-browed babbler (Malacocincla perspicillata) is a songbird species in the family Pellorneidae. The species is endemic to Borneo.^[2] Only a single specimen collected in the nineteenth century was known, until the species was rediscovered in Borneo in 2020.

Habitat

The natural habitat of M. perspicillata is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, at altitudes of 200–1,170 m (660–3,840 ft).^[1]

Its rediscovery in 2020 confirmed that the bird is from southeast Borneo.^[3]

Conservation status

The conservation status of M. perspicillata is insufficiently known. It was formerly classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN,^[4] but due to the lack of information surrounding the species, its status was changed to Data Deficient in 2008.^[5] The songbird is threatened by agriculture, logging allowed within protected areas, plantations for rubber and palm oil, and drought fires. Within the next few years, there is risk of near complete loss of dryland lowland forest in Kalimantan.

Rediscovery

In October 2020, M. perspicillata was rediscovered in South Kalimantan by two local men, Muhammad Suranto and Muhammad Rizky Fauzan, 170 years after the last confirmed sighting.^[6]

Interest in the rediscovery has drawn birdwatchers to the area and added to knowledge of the bird's behaviour, such as: "moving in and out of the limestone caves and crevices, clambering about in the rugged environment to hunt insects and other invertebrates", and its song: "a unique, loud and melodious vocalisation, often sounded in a duet."^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b BirdLife International (2016). "Malacocincla perspicillata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22715827A94470581. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22715827A94470581.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
^ Phillipps, Quentin; Phillipps, Karen (2011). Phillipps' Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo. Oxford, UK: John Beaufoy Publishing. ISBN 978-1-906780-56-2.
^ "Burung yang 'hilang' selama 172 tahun ditemukan warga di Kalimantan". BBC News Indonesia.
^ BLI (2006)
^ BLI (2008)
^ Akbar, P.G.; Nugroho, T.W.; Suranto, M.; Fauzan, M.R.; Ferdiansyah, D.; Trisiyanto, J.S.; Yong, D.L. (2021). "Missing for 170 years—the rediscovery of Black-browed Babbler Malacocincla perspicillata on Borneo" (PDF). BirdingASIA 34: 13–14. Oriental Bird Club. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
^ Greene, Graeme (2022). "Lost and found: twitchers delight at sweet song of the black-browed babbler". The Guardian. In print: The Guardian, 3 December 2022

Sources

BirdLife International (BLI) (2008): 2008 IUCN Redlist status changes. Retrieved 23 May 2008
Collar, N.J.; Robson, C. (2007): Family Timaliidae (Babblers). In: del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Christie, D.A. (eds.): Handbook of Birds of the World, Volume 12 (Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees): 70–291. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.