From Opus

Photo by pohsp
Khao Yai National Park, Thailand.

Copsychus malabaricus

Includes: White-crowned Shama

[edit] Identification

22-28cm

• Black bill
• Pink feet

Male

• Glossy black
• Chestnut belly
• White feathers on the rump and outer tail
  

Females: grey-brown, shorter than males
Juvenile: similar to the female, with blotches or spots on the chest.

[edit] Distribution

South and south east Asia, introduced to Kaua'i and O'ahu, Hawaii.

Subspecies stricklandi (White-crowned Shama)
Photo by Joe Pan
Kinabatangan District, Sabah, Malaysia

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies^[1]

About 20 subspecies accepted:

• C. m. malabaricus: Southern peninsula India
• C. m. leggei: Sri Lanka
• C. m. indicus: Nepal, to Assam and north-eastern India
• C. m. interpositus: South-western China to Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina and Mergui Archaepelago
• C. m. minor: Hainan (southern China)
• C. m. mallopercnus: Malay Peninsula, Riau Archipelago and Lingga Archipelago
• C. m. tricolor : Sumatra, western Java, Banka, Belitung and Karimata islands
• C. m.s mirabilis: Prinsen Island (Sunda Strait)
• C. m. melanurus: Islands off north-western Sumatra
• C. m. opisthopelus: Islands off south-western Sumatra
• C. m. javanus: Central Java
• C. m. omissus: Eastern Java
• C. m. ochroptilus: Anambas Islands (South China Sea)
• C. m. abbotti: Bangka and Belitung islands (off Borneo)
• C. m. eumesus: Natuna Islands (off Borneo)
• C. m. suavis: Borneo (except northern part)
• C. m. nigricauda: Kangean Islands and Matasiri Island (Java Sea)
• C. m. stricklandii: Lowlands of northern Borneo, Labuan, Balembangan and Banggi islands
• C. m. barbouri: Maratua Islands (off northern Borneo)

Stricklandi (together with barbouri) from Borneo is sometimes considered a full species, White-crowned Shama. Andaman Shama was formerly included in this species.

[edit] Habitat

Valley forests and lowland broadleaf forests.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

The nest is built of roots, leaves and other vegetative material which is placed near the ground. The eggs are white to light bluey-green, with brown blotches. Incubate takes between 12 and 15 days.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes grasshoppers, termites, caterpillars, grubs, and fruit. The young are fed earthworms and insects.

[edit] Vocalisation

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Wikipedia

• List of references

[edit] External Links