The Bali myna (Leucopsar rothschildi) is critically endangered with fewer than 50 adults assumed to exist in the wild. But the species is intensively bred in captivity and sold to bird lovers who call it jalak Bali
White-eyes are passerine birds of of the genus Zosterops. Called pleci by bird lovers, the Javan white-eye (Zosterops flavus) is particularly popular. The species lives in Java and Borneo and is listed as 'endangered' on the IUCN Red List
The long-tailed shrike (Lanius schach) is a very popular competition bird because of its trills (tembakan) that bird lovers - who call it cendet - value highly. The species is timid. It is therefore easily scared at competitions and hard to breed and keep. The species is widely distributed across Southeast Asia but increasingly rare in many places due to trapping.
The white-rumped shama (Kittacincla malabarica) is one of the most popular and prestigious species in Indonesian songbird competitions. The species has undergone "rolling extinctions" in many localities across its range. Bird lovers call it murai batu.
The orange-headed thrush (Zoothera citrina) is another popular songbird in competitions. Called anis merah by bird lovers, it is particularly appreciated for its ngeplong (song). Extra points are given if it "acts drunk" (teler) while it sings: spreading its wings and sways from side to side. This species has also undergone rolling extinctions across its wooded habitat in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
The grey-cheeked bulbul (Alophoixus bres) is a species restricted to Java and Bali, with a population that is undergoing rapid decline caused by trapping for the wild cagebird trade. Called cucak jenggot by bird lovers, the species is popular as a 'burung masteran', that is as a bird that sings other birds who then incorporate its song into theirs. The species also features in its own song competitions.
The orange-spotted bulbul (Pycnonotus bimaculatus) is near threathened across its range of primary montane forests of Sumatra and Java. Land transformation and logging is a key reasons for the decline, but trapping also likely plays role. Called cucak wilis by Indonesian bird-lovers, the orang-spotted bulbul is not used in competitions or as a master bird for teaching other species, but its attractive looks and bubbly song makes it a popular bird in captivity neverthelss
The crested Jay (Platylophus galericulatus) is a species found across Southeast Asia. A popular "master bird" used to teach its song to other birds, it is called cililin by bird lovers and considered a difficult bird to keep and to get to sing. Wild-caught birds are harder to tame so prices of wild bird is lower than captive-bred birds. Threatened by loss of its natural habitat in lowland and montane forest as well as increasingly by trapping, the species is listed as 'near threatened' by the IUCN.
The green leafbirds, in particular this lesser green leaf bird (Chloropsis cyanopogon) are very popular in song competitions. Demand for all species of leaf birds, called cucak ijo by bird lovers, means many species are critically threatened in their habitat.
