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Black-bellied Malkoha – less often seen and photographed

on 24th May 2015

“The Black-bellied Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus diardi diardi) (above, below) is said to be seen and photographed less often as it is more ”shy’ than the commonly seen Green-billed Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus tristis longicaudatus). These birds can, at a quick look, be mistaken for each other and their habitat overlap.

“The key differentiating features are:
1. Tail length: The Black-bellied has a tail length about equal to the body while the Green-billed has a longer 1:1.5 times body-tail length. The Handbook of the Birds of the World & Cuckoos of the World (2012) now calls it the Long-tailed Malkoha. (see composite below – Black-bellied Malkoha is on the right).

2. Face patch: The Green-billed often has a clear white boarder to the red face patch, while the Black-bellied does not (below).

3. Head: The Black-bellied had a darker grey in the head and neck while the Green-billed has slaty grey on the face and neck.

4. Iris colour: Pale blue to dark brown in the Black-bellied and brown to red-brown in the Green-billed.

“An edited section of calls made by this Black-bellied Malkoha can be heard HERE. Below shows the sonogram and waveform.

“The literature on calls suggest ‘pauk’ or ‘gwaup’ sounding calls.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
4th May 2015

Location: Malim Nawar Wetlands, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Extensive ex-tin mining area with extensive pond/lakes, wetlands, fish farming

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.

Other posts by YC Wee

One Response

  1. Dear Dato,
    Thanks for this post. I recently saw 3 types of Malkoha’s at FRIM in KL (all lifers!). All on the same tree! Red-breasted, Raffles’s, and I think the black-bellied. By size, it should not be the green-billed, and the white eye-rim is also missing (or just ever so slight in one photo). But what didn’t fit was that the head was not as dark as your photo above, and in descriptions I have read at various websites. Perhaps it was just the sunlight, but the head looked much paler, and rather like the green-billed. Perhaps, this was just a variation in this particular bird. If you would like to take a look, I have 4 shots of the malkohas at this site (not the sharpest, unfortunately!) https://picasaweb.google.com/104273577707668091244/Malkohas?authkey=Gv1sRgCJqs34ebzNyUtAE

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