Pellorneum malaccense
The Short-tailed Babbler (Pellorneum malaccense) is a diminutive and often elusive songbird, native to the dense undergrowth of Southeast Asian forests. Measuring a mere 12-14 cm (4.7-5.5 inches) and weighing 12-18 grams, its compact form is characterized by striking rufous-brown upperparts, a remarkably short tail, and a distinctive dark greyish-brown cap. Its pale greyish-white throat and belly provide a stark contrast to its rich rufous flanks and undertail coverts, often accented by faint...
This species primarily inhabits lowland and submontane primary and secondary evergreen forests, favoring dense undergrowth, bamboo thickets, and regenerating scrub, typically found below 800 meters elevation.
The Short-tailed Babbler is primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates gleaned from leaf litter and low foliage.
The Short-tailed Babbler is a highly secretive and diurnal bird, spending most of its time foraging on or near the forest floor, often amidst leaf litter. It forages by gleaning insects and small invertebrates from low vegetation and the forest floor, constantly on the move with short hops and qu...
The Short-tailed Babbler is a resident species found across the Sundaic biogeographic region of Southeast Asia. Its distribution spans the Thai-Malay Peninsula, including southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, and Singapore, extending southwards to the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Three recogn...
Least Concern
- Despite its common name, recent phylogenetic studies have placed the Short-tailed Babbler in the family Pellorneidae, separate from the 'true' babblers (Timaliidae). - Its remarkably short tail is a key identifying feature, giving it a unique, compact silhouette in the field. - This species is ...