Photo: Rackk67 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Melodious Babbler
Malacopteron palawanense
Melodious Babbler (Malacopteron palawanense) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Melodious Babbler (Malacopteron palawanense) is a member of the Pellorneidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 32.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Pellorneidae Ground Babblers
- Genus Malacopteron
- Species palawanense
Quick facts
- Weight
- 32.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Pellorneidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Melodious Babbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Melodious Babbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Melodious Babbler (Malacopteron palawanense) is a member of the Pellorneidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Palawan group (sw Philippines).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 32.1 g, with a wing length of about 8.5 cm and a tail of around 7.5 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3,507 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Melodious Babbler?
The Melodious Babbler is a small bird that weighs around 32.1 g.
Where does the Melodious Babbler live?
The Melodious Babbler is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Palawan group (sw Philippines), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Melodious Babbler belong to?
The Melodious Babbler (Malacopteron palawanense) belongs to the Pellorneidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Melodious Babbler eat?
The Melodious Babbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Melodious Babbler migrate?
The Melodious Babbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Melodious Babbler endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Melodious Babbler make?
1 real field recording of the Melodious Babbler — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Melodious Babbler's range?
The Melodious Babbler has a mapped global range of about 3,507 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Pellorneidae
Least Concern
Endangered
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.