From Opus

Photo by pohsp
Photo taken: khao Yai National Park, Thailand.

Copsychus malabaricus

Includes: White-crowned Shama

[edit] Identification

22-28cm. Glossy black, chestnut belly, white feathers on the rump and outer tail. Females - more grey-brown, shorter than males. Both sexes have a black bill and pink feet. Juveniles have a more grey or brown coloration, similar to that of the females, with a blotchy or spotted chest.

[edit] Distribution

South Asia, introduced to Kaua'i, Hawaii, in early 1931 from Malaysia, and to O'ahu in 1940.

[edit] Taxonomy

About 20 subspecies accepted.
Stricklandi (together with barbouri) from Borneo is sometimes considered a full species, White-crowned Shama.

Photo by Joe Pan
Photo taken: Kinabatangan District, Sabah, Malaysia.
C. m. stricklandi (White-crowned Shama)

[edit] Habitat

Valley forests and lowland broadleaf forests.

[edit] Behaviour

The nests are built of roots, leaves, ferns, and stems and are placed near the ground. The eggs are white to light aqua, with variable shades of brown blotching; both parents incubate for between 12 and 15 days.

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

[edit] External Links