Bornean Whistling-Thrush Myophonus borneensis Scientific name definitions

c. 25–26 cm. Male is mostly bluish-black, with vestigial blue forehead-band, bluish sheen on throat and breast, brownish-black wings with small dull blue shoulder patch (lesser wing-coverts), dark brown lower underparts; bill and legs black, soles of feet yellow. Female is plain blackish-brown, with (often concealed) purplish-blue shoulder patch. Immature has small whitish spotting on sides of head and neck, becoming large, rather streaky spotting from breast to belly; whitish lesser underwing-coverts.

Mountains of Borneo (from Mt Kinabalu E to Mt Menyapa and S to Mt Tegora).

Ground and lower storeys of submontane forest, usually but not exclusively along margins of rocky streams, particularly near larger boulders, often in dark ravines. Commonest at 1000–2200 m, but ranging to sea-level in some (limestone) areas, and as high as 2750 m on Mt Kinabalu.

Presumably sedentary.

Larger invertebrates and small vertebrates, including earthworms, crickets, beetles, snails, woodlice and frogs; also berries. Forages on ground amid leaf litter, sometimes clinging to sloping tree trunks in understorey.

Calls include pleasant ventriloquial long-drawn whistle on one pitch, used in contact when moving from one spot to another; a screech (like sound made by pencil drawn across slate), a high-pitched ringing whistle (as from a coin dropping on hard surface), and a long chittering.

Jan–Feb and Apr, and breeding-condition bird in Nov. Nest placed in crevice on high rock or between boulders, usually adjacent to running water; in cave mouths in Bau lowlands (Sarawak). Eggs 2, cream with reddish speckles. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Moderately common and widespread within relatively restricted range. Recorded from Mount Kinabalu National Park (Sabah) and Gunung Mulu National Park (Sarawak).