The fluffy-backed tit-babbler is a species of bird in the family Timaliidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical swampland. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Region
Sundaland (Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra)
Typical Environment
Occurs in Brunei, Indonesia (Borneo and Sumatra), Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak), and far southern Thailand. It inhabits primary and well-structured secondary lowland evergreen forest and peat-swamp forest, and can persist in dense secondary thickets and forest edges if understory is intact. Regularly uses swampy and riverine forest where dense tangles provide cover. It is generally absent from heavily degraded or open habitats.
Altitude Range
0–800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A shy understory specialist, the fluffy-backed tit-babbler is named for the loose, shaggy feathers over its upper back that give it a distinctive fluffy look. It usually travels in pairs or small family groups and often joins mixed-species flocks while foraging. The species depends on intact lowland forests and peat-swamp habitats, making it vulnerable to deforestation and drainage. Its unobtrusive habits mean it is often heard before seen.
Temperament
skulking and alert
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats through dense understory
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs or small family groups that keep close contact with soft calls. Frequently joins mixed-species flocks moving through the understory. Nests are placed low in dense vegetation; both parents attend the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of mellow, whistled notes interspersed with chattering scolds. Pairs may give responsive duets, and contact calls are soft and repetitive from inside cover.
Plumage
Upperparts warm brown with a distinctive patch of loose, fluffy, pale-tipped feathers on the upper back; underparts buff to tawny with cleaner pale throat. Crown and face show richer rufous tones, with subtle dusky lores. Wings and tail are brown with minimal barring.
Diet
Primarily takes small insects, spiders, and other arthropods gleaned from leaves, twigs, and vine tangles. It occasionally snatches prey from the air during short sallies within the understory. Small berries or soft fruits may be taken opportunistically when abundant.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense understory of lowland forest, peat-swamp thickets, and along forest edges and streams. Typically keeps within 1–5 meters of the ground, moving methodically through tangles and saplings.
