White-Rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus)

Family: TURDIDAE

A very large, worldwide group, divided into true thrushes, whistling thrushes, robins, chats, forktails, and other groups. The birds vary greatly in coloration but are mostly medium-sized, round-headed birds with longish legs, sharp, slender bills, and broad wings. The tail varies from short to very long but in all species, it shows some tendency to be cocked periodically. Food consists of insects, other invertebrates, and berries. Most species feed at least partly on or close to the ground. Thrushes make solid, cup-shaped, fibrous nests, often reinforced with mud and decorated with moss. Many species have melodious songs.

Description: Largish (27 cm), long-tailed, black, white, and rufous robin. Head, neck, and back black with blue gloss; wings and central tail feathers dull black; rump and outer tail feathers white; belly orange-rufous.

Iris - dark brown ; bill - black ; feet - grey brown.

Voice: Beautiful, complex, melodious songs including imitations of other birds.

Distribution and status: On Sumatra (including islands) and Borneo (including islands) it remains quite common in the lowlands, locally up to 1500 m.

Habits: Shy, keeps to thickets in denser forest. Sings lustily in morning and evening from a low perch with wings drooped and tail held high. Hops on the ground or makes short flights through undergrowth, flicking its long tail on landing.