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The Bornean Bristlehead (October 2015 Wallpaper)

Many people consider this bird as a relative of crows, while others suspect it’s one of butcherheads, or even group it to its own family. That’s how people describe the Bornean Bristlehead (Pityriasis gymnocephala).

This endemic bird of Borneo has the characteristics of a large hooked beak, hairless head with conspicuous yellow-red skin and black-spotted cheeks. The Bornean Bristleheads are commonly found in swamp forest, peat, heath, and lowland forest in Kalimantan. However, this bird was also recorded at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level in Sabah, Malaysia.

The species, which has a distinctive call, is usually seen living in a group consisting of three to 10 individuals, or leading a mixed flock, a group of a variety of bird species.

However, this timid bird is more often heard than seen. The appearance is also irregular. " There’s a possibility that the Bornean Bristlehead is a seasonal visitor or local nomad," said Jihad, Bird Conservation Officer of Burung Indonesia.

The Bornean Bristlehead diets on insects, foraging the upperpart to the canopies. “We have limited information related to this species, in particular its reproduction,” Jihad added.

This member of Pityriasidae family is Currently nearing extinction. Its main threat is the extreme rate of destruction of Kalimantan's lowland forests due to illegal logging, forest conversion and forest fires.

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