Oriental Magpie Robin Totally Explained

Everything about Oriental Magpie Robin totally explained

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.

Description

This species is 19cm long, including the long cocked tail. It is similar in shape to the smaller European Robin, but is longer-tailed. 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 loud melodic notes from the top of a perch during the breeding season.

Etymology

The name dhyal has led to many confusions. It was first used by Albin in 1737 (Suppl. N. H. Birds, i. p. 17, pls. xvii. xviii.), and Levaillant (Ois. d'Afr. iii. p. 50) thought it referred to a sun dial and he called it Cadran. Thomas C. Jerdon wrote (B. India, ii. p.1l6) that Linnaeus, thinking it had some connection with a sun-dial, called it solaris, by lapsus pennae, saularis. This is slightly incorrect and it's noted that the Hindi word saulary was Latinized to saularis. A male bird was sent with this Hindi name from Madras by E. Buckley to Petiver, who first described the species (Ray, Synops. Meth. Avium, p.197).

Status and distribution

Singapore

This is a native species in Singapore, where it's 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.

Malaysia

They can often be seen in Kuching Wetlands National Park in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo.

Hong Kong

Magpie Robin is a commonly found species in Hong Kong. According to birdwatchers, it's 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.

Bangladesh

Magpie Robin is a common bird in Bangladesh. It is found all over the country. It's local name (in Bangla) is Doyel or Doel . This bird 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.

Gallery

Image:Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) singing on Vilaiti Siris (samanea saman) in Kolkata W IMG 4534.jpg‎| Male singing on Vilaiti Siris Samanea saman in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Image:Oriental Magpie Robin (Immature) I.jpg| Immature in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Image:Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) (Female) taking bath at Sindhrot near Vadodara, Gujrat Pix 128.jpg| Female taking bath at Sindhrot in Vadodara District of Gujarat, India. Image:Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis)- Male calling in the rain at Kolkata I IMG 3746.jpg| Male calling in the rain in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Image:Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis)- Male bathing in the rain at Kolkata I IMG 3742.jpg| Male bathing in the rain in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Image:Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis)- Male bathing & calling in the rain at Kolkata I IMG 3746.jpg| Male bathing & calling in the rain in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Image:Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis)- Female foraging in Kolkata I IMG 8021.jpg| Female foraging in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Image:Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis)- Female after bath in Kolkata I IMG 8021.jpg| Female after bath in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Image:Oriental Magpie Robin I IMG 6686.jpg| Female in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Image:Oriental Magpie Robin(F) I- Kolkata enjoying the falling water drops IMG 6720.jpg|Female enjoying the falling water drops in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Image:Oriental Magpie Robin- Male basking in the Sun I IMG 5960.jpg|Male basking in the Sun in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Image:Oriental Magpie Robin (Male) I2 IMG 6590.jpg| Male in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Image:Oriental Magpie Robin (Male) I IMG 6581.jpg‎ |Male in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Image:Oriental Magpie Robin (Female) I2 IMG 3692.jpg|Female in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Image:Oriental Magpie Robin (Female) at Nest I IMG 4148.jpg| Female at Nest in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Image:Oriental Magpie Robin (Male) at Hodal I IMG 8960.jpg| Male at Hodal in Faridabad District of Haryana, India. Image:Oriental magpie robin.JPG|Mumbai Suburbs Image:Magpie_robin.jpg Image:Magpie Robin Female.jpg|Female Image:Magpie Robin Male.jpg|Male Further Information

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