Babblers (Timaliidae)

Fluffy-backed Tit-babbler (Macronus ptilosus) - HBW 12, p. 183

French: Timalie chamasa German: Stachelrücken-Meisentimalie Spanish: Timalí Piloso
Other common names: Plume-backed Tit-babbler

Taxonomy: Macronous ptilosus Jardine and Selby, 1835, “a collection… said to be brought from the islands of Java and Sumatra” = Malacca, Peninsular Malaysia.
Original description of genus included two different spellings of name (Macronus, Macronous); current name determined by ICZN Principle of First Reviser (see page 78). Birds from Sumatra and Batu Is usually separated as race trichorrhos, but differences from those in Malay Peninsula imperceptible in series of specimens. Other proposed races are batuensis (on Batu Is), considered inseparable from nominate, and minor (on Bangka) and sordidus (on Belitung), both synonymized with reclusus. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution: