Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia (R), Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore (E), Thailand.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2020) and decreasing.
Habits
Singly or in pairs. Walks and runs, sometimes taking short flights.
Food
Terrestrial insects.
Voice
A disyllabic clear, seweet, whistle 'pii-yuu', rising then falling in pitch.. Also a mournful three-note 'too-ii-tyou', the short middle note the highest.
Javan Black-capped Babbler (Pellorneum capistratum) [XC669914]
by Mike Nelson from Carita, Pandeglang Regency, Banten, Indonesia (song)
Javan Black-capped Babbler (Pellorneum capistratum) [XC791198]
by Frank Lambert from Kecamatan Nyalindung, Kabupaten Sukabumi, Jawa Barat, Indonesia (song)
Subspecies
Nominate subspecies relatively distinct from others, and possibly a separate species.
Proposed subspecies nyctilampis (from southern Sumatra and Bangka) synonymized with nigrocapitatum.
Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Rufous-browed Babbler (Pellorneum nigrocapitatum).
The following 5 subspecies are recognised:
nigrocapitatum (Eyton, 1839) - Extreme southern Myanmar (extreme southern Tenasserim), southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Bangka, Belitung and northern Natuna Is. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Rufous-browed Babbler (Pellorneum nigrocapitatum).
morrelli Chasen & Kloss, 1929 - Northern Borneo (Sabah) and Banggi I. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Rufous-browed Babbler (Pellorneum nigrocapitatum).
capistratoides (Strickland, 1849) - Western, central and southern Borneo. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Rufous-browed Babbler (Pellorneum nigrocapitatum).
capistratum (Temminck, 1823) - Java. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Rufous-browed Babbler (Pellorneum nigrocapitatum).
nyctilampis (Oberholser, 1922) - Sumatra and Bangka I. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Rufous-browed Babbler (Pellorneum nigrocapitatum).