Kingdom Animalia Genus Malia
Schlegel, 1880 Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Family see text Scientific name Malia grata Higher classification Malia Order Passerine | |
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Similar Black‑browed babbler, Bornean wren‑babbler, Large wren‑babbler, Mindanao miniature babbler, Visayan miniature babbler | ||
The malia (Malia grata) 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 adult. It is the only member in the genus Malia.
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.
The taxonomy of this species is not certainly known. The malia has bulbul-like plumage characters, but its behavior is similar to Old World babblers' and it may be a relative of theirs.
Widespread and common in its habitat and range, the malia is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.