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Call of the Fluffy-backed Tit Babbler

on 8th January 2011

“I heard a loud ‘argument’ going on in a dense bush and decided to watch quietly. It was a verbal battle between a pair of Fluffy-backed Tit Babblers (Macronous ptilosus ptilosus) and a pair of Stripe-throated Bulbuls (Pycnonotus finlaysoni finlaysoni). I suspect the argument was over foraging; access to feeding site. Possibly due to my presence, the Fluffy-backed Tit Babblers ‘won’ the ‘argument’.

“My pictures of the Fluffy-backed Tit Babblers are poor but I had no heart to flash these lovely ‘near-threatened babblers (left) (see the lovely pictures in OBI databases, especially by Choy WM.

“I however took lots of recording of the verbal battle and would like to share a fragment.

“Fluffy-backed Tit Babblers in Peninsula Malaysia are well known to make the classical ‘pong’ call, more often heard than seen (Wells, 2007; Madoc 1956). Other records suggest more calls – six types Smythies, 1999) but calls for another region may be different.

“Records from Peninsula Malaysia on calls apart from the classical ‘pong’: wuh wu-hu, hherrh berr, iwit-cherrh, etc. (Robson 2000); and ‘… another … ends with a churring note’ (Chasen 1939).

“The recording posted HERE (apologise for slightly bigger file, have slashed extensively) is of the argument and if you concentrate on the Fluffy-backed Tit Babblers (ignore the Stripe-throated Bulbuls and background river) you may appreciate the ‘churring call’. I believe, having watched this behaviour for some time, that this is a call used to show displeasure (scolding call), may be used for territorial (food source) purposes. In recording HERE I have applied noise removal software but the quality of the call is impaired.

“You will hear a similar call recorded of the bird from Thailand here HERE (go to Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler – chatter), (again there seems to be another bird in the background, although I considered whether the musical notes could be made by the Fluffy-backed Tit Babbler itself?).”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ulu Kinta Forest Reserve, Perak, Malaysia
5th November 2010
Red Data: Near threatened

References:
1.
Chasen, F. N. (1939). The birds of the Malay Peninsular. Vol. IV: The commoner birds. H.F. & G. Whiterby, London.
2. Madoc, G. C. (1956). An introduction to Malayan birds. Malayan Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur. (revised ed.)
3. Robson, C., 2000. A field guide to the birds of South-East Asia. New Hollad, London.
4. Smythies, B. E., 1999. Birds of Borneo. Natural History Publications & The Sabah Society, Kota Kinabalu. (4th ed., revised).
5. Wells, D.R., 2007. The birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsular. Vol. II, Passerines. Christopher Helm, London.

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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