JOGI PHOTOGRAPHY: ORIENTAL MAGPIE-ROBIN

Male Oriental Magpie Robin

Male Oriental Magpie Robin / Kucica Kampung (Copsychus saularis)

The Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis) is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but now considered an Old World flycatcher. They are distinctive black and white birds with a long tail that is held upright as they forage on the ground or perch conspicuously. Distributed in most of the Indian Subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia, they are common birds in urban gardens as well as forests. They are particularly well known for their songs and were once popular as cagebirds.

DESCRIPTION

Male has a glossy black head,breast,back,wings and white-sided tail; those in the Malay Peninsula, Singapore and Sarawak have a brilliant white belly,while Sabah males have entirely black belly. All have a strong white wing bar. Females are more subdued grey and cream with a wing bar.

DISTRIBUTION

Resident through the Indian sub-continent, the S 3rd of China and Southeast Asia to Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Bali and most of the Philippines.

HABITS and HABITAT

Garden bird par excellence, with a fine and varied song given by the male or both sexes from orchard trees; also occurs in plantations, secondary woodland and mangroves. Can invade edges of heavily logged forest adjacent to cultivation, and forested riverbanks. Drops to the ground for insects, worms and small vertebrates.

Source : A Naturalist's Guide to the BIRDS OF MALAYSIA including Sabah and Sarawak