Oriental Magpie Robin

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iOriental Magpie Robin

Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Copsychus
Species: C. saularis
Binomial name
Copsychus saularis
(Linnaeus, 1758)

The Oriental Magpie Robin, Copsychus saularis, is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, family Muscicapidae. It is also known as Oriental Magpie Robin, Straits Robin and Magpie.

This magpie-robin is an insectivorous species which is a resident breeder in tropical southern Asia from Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia, south China and the Philippines.

The Oriental Magpie Robin is found in open woodland, cultivated areas and around human habitation. It nests in a hole, often in a wall, laying 3-6 eggs which are incubated by both sexes.

This species is 19cm long, including the long cocked tail. It is similar in shape to the smaller European Robin, but is longer-tailed.

Female
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Female
Male
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Male

The male has black upperparts, head and throat apart from a white shoulder patch. The underparts and the sides of the long tail are white. Females are grey above and greyish white. Young birds have scaly brown upperparts and head.

The Oriental Magpie Robin is a common and tame bird. It is terrestrial, hopping along the ground with cocked tail. The male sings a few melodic notes during courtship.

The Oriental Magpie Robin, locally called the Dhayal, was once common in the Indian songbird trade. When a specimen reached Linnaeus it was apparently labelled Dial and thinking this had something to do with a sun-dial, he gave it the scientific name of 'solaris' ('saularis' in error).

Contents

[edit] Magpie Robin in Singapore

This is a native species in Singapore, where it is known by the Malay names Kampung/Cerang. Once very common in the 1920s, it was pushed to near extinction by the 1970s, largely due to the introduction of mynahs, illegal poaching, and the disappearance of its natural habitat in the face of rapid urbanisation. Attempts to reintroduce the bird were conducted in the 1980s, but the species remains vulnerable and hence protected by law.

[edit] Magpie Robin in Hong Kong

Magpie Robin is a commonly found species in Hong Kong. According to birdwatchers, it is usually seen at large urban parks and the countryside, such as Victoria Peak, Kowloon Park, Mai Po Marshes and Tai Tam Country Park. Like all wild birds, Magpie Robin is protected by law.

[edit] Magpie Robin in Bangladesh

Doyel Chatwar, Dhaka
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Doyel Chatwar, Dhaka

Magpie Robin is a common bird in Bangladesh. It is found all over the country. It's local name (in Bangla) is "Doyel". Doyel is the National Bird of Bangladesh. Picture of this bird appeares on different currency notes of Bangladesh. "Doyel Chatwar" (meaning: Doyel Square) named after this bird is a prominent landmark in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh.

[edit] References

  • BirdLife International (2004). Copsychus saularis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
  • Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6

[edit] External links

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