Shiny Whistling-thrush: Sumatran's endemic bird is always cheerful and friendly

In 2009-2010 I conducted a tiger survey project in northern Sumatra. My work area was Leuser National Park, the largest national park in Sumatra. There was something interesting that always followed our journey through almost the entire national park for one year. That is, every time we passed an altitude above 800 m, our team was always greeted by a type of bird measuring 24-29 cm, dark blue in color and with bright blue spots around its head to its back. When I became a bird watcher, I found out that the bird was called Shiny Whisling-thrush, an endemic bird of the Sumatran highlands.

Shiny Whistlingthrush is an endemic bird that has interesting behavior to observe. We often encounter this bird in the morning and evening, and it is often seen wandering around the paths we pass. This habit seems to be related to its territorial nature, where these individuals mark their territory with a distinctive loud whistle. They usually move in areas rich in food sources such as insects and fruits. The Shiny Whistling Thrush's calm yet alert character makes it a figure of entertainment for those of us who traverse the dense Leuser forest.