ML608482080

Observation details

Almost immediately this morning, we taped in the first groups here: (-6.8753245, 115.2963662). No birds were vocalizing before we trolled for them. A single individual and then a pair responded quickly to playback, mostly with a halting series of scratchy notes. Song response seemed to mostly come after we ceased playback (or was then audible). At this one spot, we had at least two groups of 3 and 4 respond, possibly others (perhaps 9 in total?). In response to playback, I watched as more than one bird agitatedly flicked its wings rather dramatically, with at least one bird simultaneously pointing its bill skyward. The first birds, in “forest”, mostly stayed rather high in the midstory to subcanopy, although they could be coaxed down to the speaker in the lower understory. This was in an overgrown teak plantation (first habitat photo) with some other large trees intermixed. = 7 Two more singing/calling here (2-3 seen), in very low overgrown scrub: (-6.8753891, 115.2989605). I registered natural heights of 3-5 m, 2 m, and perhaps 3 m. (Second habitat photo) = +5 Another large group very close by, including a juvenile (AJB): (-6.8751501, 115.2991262). CLR presumably got on this same juvenile later, which was capable of powered flight. It had an obvious pale gape, which I believe is a pale yellowish color, loosely textured plumage about the throat, and an obviously stubby tail seen in flight. I think it’s begging calls were slightly different than the harsher more staccato chatter of the adults. Another natural height of ~0.5 m registered = +6 A chattering pair and one distant singing bird here: (-6.8753847, 115.3010781). = +3. Natural heights of 1-4 m (CLR also photographed an arboreal lizard here, referenced for uploading to iNaturalist.) = 21 individuals in total. Stays mostly within thick vegetation and thus difficult to see while foraging (gleaning mostly from along small twigs and branches?). In the same habitat as Ashy Tailorbird (possibly associating together at times??). Gray faced/headed (including the crown) with a vague paler supercilium and a white throat, unlike Gray-crowned/Javan. They seem to travel in small groups (2-4): pairs or small family groups, presumably. A densely packed bird, with seemingly very small territories. Multiple birds/territories were audible from a single spot. Fairly long intervals seem to pass before they erupt in synchronous chatter.