Brown tit-babbler

The brown tit-babbler (Macronus striaticeps) is a species of bird in the family Timaliidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and or tropical moist montane forest.^[1]

Brown tit-babbler
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Timaliidae
Genus:	Macronus
Species:	M. striaticeps
Binomial name
Macronus striaticeps Sharpe, 1877

Description and taxonomy

EBird describes the bird as "A fairly small bird of forest and scrub from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains. Rufous on the back, wings, and tail. Black head is streaked white, with creamy throat blending to pale rufous underparts with pale streaking on chest and down the sides of the throat. Brown Tit-Babbler is somewhat similar to Visayan and Mindanao Pygmy-Babblers, but has a pale throat. Voice includes a varied whistled duet, plus various rasps and chatters."^[2]

Subspecies

Four subspecies are recognized:

• M s striaceps – Found on Basilan
• M s. alcasidi – Found on Dinagat Islands and Siargao
• M. s. mindanensis – Found on Mindanao (and surrounding islets), Bohol, Biliran, Leyte and Samar
• M. s. kettlewelli – Found the Sulu Archipelago; Most distinctive subspecies and a possible split. Sulu birds have a brown crown, less streaking, and uniformly buffy underparts.

Ecology and behavior

It is presumed to feed on invertebrates and vegetable matter and found in small parties in the middle and lower storeys in tangled vegetation. Can also form mixed flocks with other species.

Observed breeding from March to July. Nest is described as a large loose ball of grass and leaves placed in a clump of grass or near the ground. Clutch size is typically 2 to 3 creamy white or pure white eggs with reddish brown speckles.^[3]

Habitat and conservation status

A 1979 Philippine stamp featuring the ssp. kettleweli

It is found in primary and secondary tropical moist lowland forest and scrubland until 1,770 meters above sea level.

IUCN has assessed this bird as least-concern species but the population is decreasing. This species' main threat is habitat loss with wholesale clearance of forest habitats as a result of logging, agricultural conversion and mining activities occurring within the range.

Occurs in a few protected areas like Pasonanca Natural Park, Mount Apo and Mount Kitanglad on Mindanao, Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape in Bohol and Samar Island Natural Park but actual protection and enforcement from illegal logging are lax^[4]