Wildlifeof Vietnam
White-rumped Shama
Thrushes, Chats & Flycatchers
Photo: Lehmann (iNaturalist) · CC BY 4.0
Copsychus malabaricus
Rare visitor: recorded only occasionally in this country
Basic stats
Habitat
Densely vegetated habitats; nest in a tree hollow of roots, leaves, ferns and stems
Range
Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia; introduced elsewhere through the cage-bird trade
Clutch size
4–5 eggs
Incubation period
12–15 days; nestling period averages 12.4 days
Size
23–28cm
Weight
28–34g
The white-rumped shama is a member of the Old World flycatcher family, native to densely vegetated habitats in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, and popular as a cage-bird and songster. It weighs 28 to 34g and is 23 to 28cm long. Males are glossy black with a chestnut belly and white rump and outer tail; females are more greyish brown and typically shorter (Wikipedia, general species account).
In South Asia it breeds from January to September, mainly April to June, laying four or five eggs in a tree hollow nest of roots, leaves, ferns and stems. Incubation lasts 12 to 15 days, and only the female incubates and broods, though both feed the young. It is shy, somewhat crepuscular and very territorial. The account opened does not name Bhutan.
Quick answers
- What habitat does the White-rumped Shama live in?
- Densely vegetated habitats; nest in a tree hollow of roots, leaves, ferns and stems
- Where is the White-rumped Shama found?
- Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia; introduced elsewhere through the cage-bird trade
- How many eggs does the White-rumped Shama lay?
- 4–5 eggs
- How long are the eggs of the White-rumped Shama incubated?
- 12–15 days; nestling period averages 12.4 days
- How big is the White-rumped Shama?
- 23–28cm
- How much does the White-rumped Shama weigh?
- 28–34g