Moustached babbler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moustached babbler |
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| M. m. cinereocapilla | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Malacopteron
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| Species: |
magnirostre
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The moustached babbler (Malacopteron magnirostre) is a small bird known for its unique look. It belongs to the ground babbler family, Pellorneidae. People also call this bird the brown-headed babbler or brown-headed tree-babbler.
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Meet the Moustached Babbler
This bird gets its name from a stripe that looks like a mustache! It's a fascinating creature found in parts of Asia.
What's in a Name?
Scientists give animals two-part Latin names. The moustached babbler's scientific name is Malacopteron magnirostre. The word magnirostre comes from two Latin words. Magnus means "big," and rostris means "billed." So, it means "big-billed."
This species has two main groups, called subspecies. One is M. m. magnirostre, and the other is M. m. cinereocapilla. The name cinereocapilla also comes from Latin. Cinereus means "ash" or "ashy," and capillus means "headed." This describes the color of its head.
Where Moustached Babblers Live
You can find the moustached babbler in a region called Sundaland. This area includes parts of Southeast Asia.
Their Homes and Habitats
The main group of moustached babblers lives in southern Myanmar and Thailand. They also live in Peninsular Malaysia and on the island of Sumatra. The other subspecies, M. m. cinereocapilla, lives only on the island of Borneo. A long time ago, they lived in Singapore, but they are probably not there anymore.
These birds like to live in tropical forests. They can be found in untouched lowland forests and also in forests that have been logged. They also live in peat swamp forests and old rubber tree farms. They usually live in areas up to about 915 meters (3,000 feet) high. Sometimes, they can be found as high as 1,200 meters (3,900 feet).
What Moustached Babblers Look Like
The moustached babbler is about 18 centimeters (7 inches) long. It weighs between 16 and 25 grams (0.5 to 0.9 ounces). That's about the weight of a few quarters!
Feathers and Features
Its feathers are a dull brown color on its back. Its belly is a whitish color. The top of its head is olive-brown in the main group. It also has a grey stripe near its eyes and that special "mustache" stripe.
Moustached Babbler Behavior
These birds are busy creatures, always looking for food.
What They Eat
Moustached babblers mostly eat insects. Their diet includes beetles and locusts. They usually look for food in the middle part of the forest trees. This is about 4 to 6 meters (13 to 20 feet) off the ground.
