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Chestnut-bellied Malkoha: bill and periorbital patch

on 23rd November 2009

“Chestnut-bellied Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus sumatranus) is reported in local literature as the “least frequently met malkoha species” (Wells 1999) but in my experience (possibly the locations I visit) it is not uncommon.

“I had an opportunity to watch a pair foraging for close to 75 minutes – following them in thick secondary forest as they scampered around. They called to each other intermittently to keep within reach and were very tolerant of my watching and my camera.

“Note the composite picture (above) of the pair showing that both have some bluish coloration at the base of the bill with it being more prominent on one on the right. The bill is described in guide books as “pea green”, no mention of blue. It is not the lighting as I can see it in many images. Both birds looked adult.

“I have seldom seen this additional blue at the base of the bill (looked at all my previous pictures). Any comments?

“I looked through all the Oriental Bird Images database and the only one that suggest some blue at base of bill is this one: HERE, a close up from Singapore.

Images above show the periorbital patch that looks red in low light (left) but orange in bright light (right).

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ulu Kinta Forest Reserve, Perak, Malaysia
10th October 2009

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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