Copsychus saularis
The Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis) is a striking passerine bird, renowned for its bold black and white plumage and melodious song. Measuring approximately 19-23 cm in length with a weight typically ranging from 30 to 42 grams, males sport a glossy black head, back, and upper breast, contrasting sharply with a white belly and distinct white wing-bars. Females are slightly smaller and duller, with greyish-black plumage replacing the glossy black of the male. A distinctive field mark...
Found in a variety of open woodland habitats, including gardens, cultivation, urban parks, and scrubland, typically at elevations from sea level up to around 2000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide array of invertebrates including ants, termites, beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and spiders, supplemented occasionally with small fruits, seeds, and nectar. Forages mainly on the ground, hopping and probing for prey.
Oriental Magpie-Robins are primarily diurnal, highly active, and often seen foraging on the ground, though they may roost communally in dense vegetation. They employ a 'perch-and-pounce' foraging strategy, gleaning insects from foliage or catching them on the ground, often flicking their tail as ...
The Oriental Magpie-Robin boasts a vast distribution across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, extending from Pakistan in the west, through India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Its range continues eastward into Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and southern China, i...
Least Concern
- The Oriental Magpie-Robin is the national bird of Bangladesh, where it is known as the 'Doel'. - Males are renowned for their highly varied and melodious song, often incorporating mimicry of other bird species. - They are incredibly adaptable and can thrive in urban environments, often nesting ...