Bornean bristlehead

Bornean bristlehead
Museum specimen above ( Sepilok )
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Superfamily:	Malaconotoidea
Family:	Pityriasidae Mayr & Amadon, 1951
Genus:	Pityriasis Lesson , 1839
Species:	P. gymnocephala
Binomial name
Pityriasis gymnocephala (Temminck, 1836)

The Bornean bristlehead (Pityriasis gymnocephala), also variously known as the bristled shrike, bald-headed crow or the bald-headed wood-shrike, is the only member of the passerine family Pityriasidae and genus Pityriasis. This enigmatic and vulnerable species is endemic to the southeast Asian island of Borneo, where it lives in small groups in the rainforest canopy.^[2][3]

Taxonomy

The relationships of this species have been controversial. At times it has been placed in the

The Bornean bristlehead is a medium-sized bird, c. 25 cm (9.8 in) in length. It is mostly black, with bright red thighs, head, throat and neck, and grey ear-coverts. The featherless crown is deep yellow and covered in short, 3–4 mm long,

Juveniles have entirely or mostly black thighs, a more orange-red head and neck, orange-red ear-coverts, some red mottling to the underparts, a few red feathers on the crown and undeveloped bristles.[8]^[9]

It is a noisy species making a variety of unmusical calls, including distinctive high-pitched nasal whining notes interspersed with harsher notes, chattering noises, whistles, honks and chortles.^[2][4]

Distribution and habitat

The bristlehead is

Bornean bristleheads feed primarily on animal prey, mainly large insects and other arthropods, but also small vertebrates like lizards and frogs. Prey is gleaned from foliage, twigs, branches and trunks at canopy to mid-levels of the forest. It occasionally take fruits.^[2][4]

Breeding

Breeding behaviour is largely unknown, though an oviduct egg was described as being white with grey and brown spots and with dimensions of 31 x 25 mm. A sighting of two apparent females feeding a fledgling has been interpreted as suggesting communal breeding. Birds have also been seen in flight carrying nesting material.^[4]

Conservation

The Bornean bristlehead is considered vulnerable due to the rapid and ongoing deforestation in Borneo, along with burning of peat swamp forest. The principal habitat of the species is Borneo's lowland forests, where an estimated 2.5% is lost each year (based on reviews covering 2015-2020). It occurs in a number of protected areas, but some of these are also targeted by illegal logging.^[1]

References