The Bornean wren-babbler is a species of bird in the family Pellorneidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia, where it is endemic to the island of Borneo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical swampland. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Region
Borneo
Typical Environment
Occurs throughout lowland and foothill forests of Borneo in Brunei, Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, and Indonesian Kalimantan. Favors primary and well-structured secondary evergreen forest with a dense understory. Often associated with damp gullies, stream edges, and swampy or peaty patches where leaf litter accumulates. Avoids open and heavily degraded habitats and is patchy where logging has simplified the understory.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 900 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This shy, ground-dwelling babbler is endemic to the island of Borneo and is most often detected by its duet-like songs rather than seen. It keeps to dense understory and leaf litter, where it slips mouse-like between roots and fallen logs. The species is sensitive to forest degradation and fragmentation and rarely crosses open areas.
Temperament
skulking and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, usually low to the ground
Social Behavior
Typically found singly or in pairs, moving quietly along the forest floor. Pairs maintain territories and often engage in duetting, especially at dawn. Nests are placed low, often near the ground in dense cover, with both parents involved in care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of clear, mellow whistles that may accelerate or rise slightly in pitch, often delivered as antiphonal duets between mates. Calls include soft ticking notes and short, penetrating whistles from dense cover.
