Unique Birds of Malaysia

Malay Post issued the stamp set of fauna series  features the unique birds on January 21, 2009. The issue comprises of three postage stamps which   depicted the birds are found in Malaysia, such as : Merak Pongsu (Polyplectoron malacense), Murai Bersiul Gunung (Myophonus robinsoni), Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea) .

The Malaysian Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron malacense) is a medium-sized pheasant of the galliform family Phasianidae. It is one of the shortest-tailed peacock-pheasants. Adult males are about 50 cm long, about half of which is made up by the tail.

A shy and elusive bird, the Malaysian Peacock-Pheasant is endemic to lowland forests of the Malay Peninsula form the Isthmus of Kra region southwards. At one time, this species was widespread in Malaysia and Thailand, and reported from southern Myanmar, Sumatra and Singapore.It inhabits mainly dipterocarp rainforest up to 150 m ASL  , rarely occurring even as low as 300 m ASL

Malaysian Peacock-Pheasant are polygynous or promiscuous, and do not form lasting pair bonds. The mating season is not well resolved; recently-used nests have been found in March, April and August. Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size and limited range, the Malaysian Peacock-Pheasant is evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The  Malaysian Whistling-thrush (Myophonus robinsoni) is a species of bird in the Turdidae family. It is endemic to Malaysia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

The population size has not been formally estimated, but recent surveys by Bakewell et al. (2010a) found no evidence against Collar's (2005) presumption that there are fewer than 10,000 mature individuals.

From the “Birdlife International references” taken data that Malaysian Whistling-thrush is very shy, occasionally frequenting quiet mountain roadsides at dawn and dusk. It probably feeds on insects (Wells 2007). Nests with eggs (clutch-size 1-2) and young have been found in March and September, described as "massive half-cup" structures, which have been found in roots, ferns and behind waterfalls (Wells 2007, Teo and Wee 2009).

 

The Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae.This species occurs in Cambodia, Peninsular Malaysia and the Indonesian islands of Sumatra,Java, Bali, Sumbawa, Sulawesi and Buton.

The Milky Stork is a medium sized stork with  the sexes look similar. The plumage is general white contrasted with a naked red face and a long shiny green-black tail and flight-feathers. The Milky Stork is classified as Vulnerable owing to loss of coastal habitat, hunting and trade.