Malia grata

The malia (Malia grata) [2] is a medium-sized (approximately 29 cm long) babbler-like passerine. It has an olive-green plumage, yellowish head and chest, and pinkish-brown bill. The young is duller than the adult. It is the only member of the genus Malia.

Malia grata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Locustellidae
Genus: Malia
Schlegel, 1880
Species:
M. grata
Binomial name
Malia grata
Schlegel, 1880

An Indonesian endemic, the malia is restricted to montane forests of Sulawesi. Usually, it is found in pairs or small groups of three to seven birds. The diet consists mainly of insects, beetles and other arthropods.

There has been some debate over the taxonomic relationships of the malia. It has some plumage characteristics reminiscent of bulbuls, and has been shifted between that family and the wastebasket taxon Timaliidae sensu lato by past authors.[3][4] A study published early in 2012 found that the malia was not a babbler;[5] later in the same year, a second study determined that it was instead an aberrant member of the family Locustellidae.[6]

Widespread and common in its habitat and range, the malia is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[1]

References
  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Malia grata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22713260A94367910. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22713260A94367910.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Collar, N. J. & Robson, C. 2007. Family Timaliidae (Babblers) Pp. 70 - 291 in; del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Christie, D.A. eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 12. Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
  3. Roberson, Don (2012-02-20). "Malia". Bird Families of the World. Archived from the original on 2015-10-06. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
  4. Collar, N.; Robson, C. (2017). del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D. A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). "Malia (Malia grata)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
  5. Moyle, Robert G.; Andersen, Michael J.; Oliveros, Carl H.; Steinheimer, Frank D.; Reddy, Sushma (2012-07-01). "Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Core Babblers (Aves: Timaliidae)". Systematic Biology. 61 (4): 631–651. doi:10.1093/sysbio/sys027. ISSN 1063-5157. PMID 22328569.
  6. Oliveros, Carl H.; Reddy, Sushma; Moyle, Robert G. (2012-11-01). "The phylogenetic position of some Philippine "babblers" spans the muscicapoid and sylvioid bird radiations". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 65 (2): 799–804. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2012.07.029. PMID 22877643.
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