Trilling Shrike-Babbler Pteruthius aenobarbus Scientific name definitions

Endemic to the island of Java, the Trilling Shrike-Babbler was formerly united with the Clicking Shrike-Babbler (Pteruthius intermedius) under the name ‘Chestnut-fronted Shrike-Babbler.’ However, here the two are separated, principally on account of their vocal differences, coupled with rather minor plumage differentiation. This Indonesian species is a small, attractive shrike-babbler: males have a broad chestnut-brown forehead, throat, and upper breast, a broad silver-gray eyestripe, contrasting black and white wingbars, and otherwise very yellow underparts. Females are rather nondescript (but still quite distinctive within the species’ distribution), sporting cinnamon and gray wingbars and a pale cinnamon tinge on the forehead. Like other Pteruthius, the Trilling Shrike-Babbler forages in the middle to upper reaches of the canopy, often with mixed-species flocks, in montane forest at ca. 1,000–3,000 m. As its name suggests, the species’ song is a loud and repetitive series of high notes that carries well and is readily heard. Although not recognized as a species by BirdLife International, and in consequence not assessed according to IUCN Red List criteria, this species is not known to be threatened by the songbird trade, and forest loss on Java, while formerly intensive, has now slowed greatly. The species is therefore unlikely to be immediately threatened with extinction.