Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, 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.
Malayan Black-capped Babbler (Pellorneum nigrocapitatum) [XC729269]
by Jelle Scharringa from Panti Bird Sanctuary, Johor, Malaysia (call)
Malayan Black-capped Babbler (Pellorneum nigrocapitatum) [XC832727]
by Ding Li Yong from Jerantut District (near Kuala Tahan), Pahang, Malaysia (song)
Subspecies
Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Black-capped Babbler (Pellorneum capistratum).
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). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Black-capped Babbler (Pellorneum capistratum).
morrelli Chasen and Kloss, 1929 - Northern Borneo (Sabah) and Banggi I. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Black-capped Babbler (Pellorneum capistratum).
capistratoides (Strickland, 1849) - Western, central and southern Borneo. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Black-capped Babbler (Pellorneum capistratum).
capistratum (Temminck, 1823) - Java. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Black-capped Babbler (Pellorneum capistratum).
nyctilampis (Oberholser, 1922) - Sumatra and Bangka I. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Black-capped Babbler (Pellorneum capistratum).