Malaysia 2009 Unique Bird

This issue was a collaborative effort between Pos Malaysia and Malaysian Nature Society to gain attention from all Malaysians to be aware and appreciative of our local birds and raise the concern of people the loss of habitat of these unique species.

Malaysia has over 742 species of birds, totaling about 7% of the world's population. Approximately 63 of these species are endemic to our country. The following 3 stamps of unique birds are Malaysian Peacock-Pheasant (30sen), Milky Stork (50sen), Malaysian Whistling Thrush (50sen).

The Malaysian Peacock Pheasant is listed as one of the endemic. Previously it is widespread in Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore and Sumatra, but today it is only confined to central Peninsular Malaysia.  This species has medium size body, up to 53cm long, brownish with blue-green ocelli on its wing, back and tail. The female is smaller and its color duller than the male. 

Milky Stork is a large wading bird of freshwater habitat, living in wetland and wet farmlands across southern Asia. It can reach 97cm and as a thick, yellowish bill and blackish flight feather. This species can be found in Cambodia, Peninsular Malaysia and the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali, Sumbawa, Sulawesi and Buton.

Malaysian Whistling Thrush is a rare and reclusive bird found in broad leaf evergreen forest. They prefer to appear in streams, hills and highlands. Their size is about 26cm, has a small yellowish ill, bright metalic blue and black wings and body.

Error Miniature Sheet whereby the Malaysia country name is not printed.

The miniature sheet with $5 face value is showing The Plain-pouched Hornbill. This species has a rather black body and a pouch without any visible marking, hence the name Plain-pouched. The female has a blue pouch while the male has a yellow pouch. It is about 70 to 100cm in size. The birds prefer humid evergreen, mixed deciduous forest and mainly in the lowland. It has a varied diet, mainly comprising of fruits but also invertebrates and small vertebrates.