Copsychus albiventris
The Andaman Shama (Copsychus albiventris) is a striking, medium-sized songbird renowned for its melodious vocalizations and distinctive black-and-white plumage, endemic to the remote Andaman Islands. Males are predominantly glossy black across the head, back, and wings, sharply contrasted by a pristine white belly, a bright white rump, and prominent white outer tail feathers, creating a dapper appearance. Measuring approximately 20-22 cm in length, including a proportionally long tail often h...
This species primarily inhabits tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, preferring areas with dense undergrowth and thickets. It is found at low elevations, often near coastal areas, within its island range.
Its diet primarily consists of a variety of insects, including beetles, ants, termites, and caterpillars, supplemented by other small invertebrates. Foraging occurs mainly by gleaning from the ground, leaf litter, and low vegetation.
The Andaman Shama is a diurnal and highly territorial bird, often observed foraging solitarily or in pairs on the forest floor or within the lower canopy. Its foraging strategy involves gleaning insects and other invertebrates from leaf litter, probing into crevices, and occasionally making short...
The Andaman Shama is strictly endemic to the Andaman Islands, an archipelago belonging to India in the Bay of Bengal. Its distribution is restricted to the moist tropical and subtropical lowland forests across the main islands, including North Andaman, Middle Andaman, and South Andaman, as well a...
Near Threatened
- The name 'albiventris' literally means 'white-bellied' in Latin, perfectly describing a key identification feature of this bird. - Its song is considered one of the most beautiful and complex among Asian passerines, often likened to that of the Nightingale. - This species is an island endemic, ...