Chestnut-breasted Malkoha

On 14th November 2012, Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS was walking the open trail through the primary forest of the Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia when he encountered the Chestnut-breasted Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris). The image above shows the adult female with yellow iris, that is blue in the males.

Chestnut-breasted Malkohas (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris) are birds of the primary forest, forest edge, secondary growth, mangroves and gardens. They normally perch quietly in the canopy of trees for a few minutes waiting for prey to appear or move on the ground to forage. They also hop along vines and branches, balancing by twisting their tail like squirrels to forage for insects, tree frogs, lizards and small birds. Often they may then glides down, even from a great height, to the next perch.

The images above show the Chestnut-bellied, while those below show the female Chestnut-breasted Malkoha in flight.