Oriental magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis)

Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis)

The Oriental Magpie-Robin is a small, charismatic songbird widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia. Known for its elegant black-and-white plumage and rich, melodious song, it is a common sight in gardens, woodlands, and urban parks. Males are especially vocal during the breeding season, often mimicking other bird species.

🐦 Identification

• Length: 19–21 cm
• Wingspan: ~25 cm
• Weight: 30–50 g

Appearance:

Male (breeding plumage):

• Glossy black head, back, and breast
• White belly and vent
• Distinctive white wing bars
• Long, black tail with white edges (often flicked upwards)

Female:

• Similar pattern but with slate-grey or brownish upperparts instead of glossy black

Juvenile:

• Mottled brown with duller markings

Its upright posture, long tail, and contrasting plumage make it unmistakable.

🌿 Habitat

• Highly adaptable; found in:
  • Gardens
  • Urban parks
  • Scrublands
  • Open woodlands
  • Edges of forests
  • Mangroves and plantations

Often seen perched on low branches, wires, or hopping on the ground in search of food.

🍽️ Diet

Insectivorous, but also an opportunistic feeder:

• Insects and other invertebrates: beetles, grasshoppers, worms, spiders
• Occasionally small lizards, frogs, or even fruit and seeds
• Will visit bird tables or scavenge food scraps near human dwellings

Actively forages on the ground, flicking its tail and hopping between spots.

🔁 Behavior & Life Cycle

Vocalizations:

• One of the most talented songbirds in Asia
• Males sing complex, melodious phrases, often mimicking other species
• Song used to attract mates and defend territory
• Also produces sharp alarm and contact calls

Breeding:

• Breeding season: March to July
• Nesting sites: tree holes, wall crevices, building ledges, even flowerpots
• Nest: cup-shaped, made of twigs, roots, and leaves
• Clutch: 3–5 eggs, pale blue with brown speckles
• Both parents feed the chicks; highly territorial during nesting

Behavior:

• Diurnal and territorial
• Often seen singing from prominent perches
• Frequently flicks and fans its tail, a key behavioral trait

🌍 Distribution

• Widespread in:
  • India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
  • Southeast Asia: Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam
  • Southern China
  • Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines

Introduced and established in parts of Taiwan and the Mauritius Islands.

🧬 Interesting Facts

• Was once the national bird of Bangladesh.
• Its beautiful song has made it a target for the illegal cage bird trade, which has reduced populations in some areas.
• In Thai, it’s called “นกกางเขนบ้าน” (nok kangkhen ban) — literally “house magpie-robin”.
• Plays an important role in insect control in rural and urban gardens.

🛡️ Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern
• Still common across most of its range
• Local threats:
  • Trapping for the cage bird trade
  • Habitat degradation

Protection efforts focus on legal enforcement against trapping and raising awareness of its ecological role.

The Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis) is a beloved backyard songbird, admired for both its beauty and its voice. Its adaptability and melodious presence make it one of the most recognizable and cherished birds in Asia.