Copsychus barbouri
The Maratua Shama (Copsychus barbouri) is a strikingly beautiful and critically endangered passerine, endemic solely to the small Maratua Island off the eastern coast of Borneo, Indonesia. Males are characterized by their glossy black plumage contrasting sharply with brilliant rufous-orange underparts, a conspicuous white rump, and a prominent white patch on each wing, making them highly visible in their forest habitat. Females share a similar pattern but are typically duller, exhibiting less...
Found exclusively in lowland primary and secondary forests, often frequenting forest edges and disturbed areas near coastal zones on Maratua Island.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of invertebrates such as beetles, ants, spiders, caterpillars, and other small arthropods, typically gleaned from foliage or the forest floor.
Maratua Shamas are diurnal and generally solitary or encountered in pairs, often foraging secretively among the undergrowth but also perching conspicuously to sing. They are primarily insectivorous, employing a 'sally-glean' technique to catch insects from foliage or the ground, often flicking le...
The Maratua Shama is an extreme island endemic, with its entire global population restricted solely to Maratua Island, an isolated island in the Sulu Sea, located off the east coast of Borneo, Indonesia. This tiny distribution underscores its vulnerability to localized threats. It is a resident s...
Critically Endangered
- The Maratua Shama is critically endangered, making it one of the world's most imperiled bird species. - It is an island endemic, found only on Maratua Island, a tiny landmass off the coast of Borneo. - Its scientific name, *barbouri*, honors ornithologist Thomas Barbour, who collected the first...