Chestnut-breasted Malkoha – portrait

“I have often remarked at how friendly Malkohas are as birds.

“This female Chestnut-breasted Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris microrhinus) was foraging in the undergrowth and popped out intermittently for me to have a look or to look at me; often I had only head and neck views.

“Had spectacular close views and can never tire of these large chaps.

“At one point (above) it had some food – prey is usually insects or other animals but this looked like some vegetable matter (Handbook of the Birds of the World notes that it eats figs).”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
2nd May 2016

Location: Sepilok, Sandakan, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia
Habitat: Primary forest around Orangutan sanctuary