White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus)

The White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus) is a small passerine bird of the family Muscicapidae. It was formerly classified as a member of theThrush family, Turdidae, causing it to be commonly known as the White-rumped Shama Thrush or simply Shama Thrush.

They typically weigh between 1 and 1.2 ounces and are around 9 to 11 inches in length. Males are glossy black with a chestnut belly and white feathers on the rump and outer tail. Females are more grayish-brown, and are typically shorter than males. Both sexes have a black bill and pink feet. Juveniles have a more grayish or brownish coloration, similar to that of the females, with a blotchy or spotted chest.

The white-rumped shama is shy and somewhat crepuscular^[4] but very territorial. The territories include a male and female during the breeding season with the males defending the territory averaging 0.09 ha in size,^[2] but each sex may have different territories when they are not breeding.

The voice of this species is rich and melodious which made them popular as cage birds in South Asia with the tradition continuing in parts of Southeast Asia. It is loud and clear, with a variety of phrases, and often mimics other birds. They also make a 'Tck' call in alarm or when foraging.^[2] One of the first recordings of a bird song that was ever made was of this species. This recording was made in 1889 from a captive individual using an Edison wax cylinder by Ludwig Koch in Germany.^[5]

They feed on insects in the wild but in captivity feed on boiled and dried legumes with egg yolk and raw meat.^[6

In South Asia, they breed from January to September but mainly in April to June laying a clutch of four or five eggs^[7] in a nest placed in the hollow of tree.^[4]During courtship, males pursue the female, alight above the female, give a shrill call, and then flick and fan out their tail feathers. It is followed by a rising and falling flight pattern by both sexes. It the male is unsuccessful, the female will threaten the male, gesturing with the mouth open.