White-rumped Shama

Appearance

They typically weigh between 28 and 34 g and are around 23–28 cm in length. Males are glossy black with a chestnut belly and white feathers on the rump and outer tail. Females are more greyish-brown, and are typically shorter than males. Both sexes have a black bill and pink feet. Juveniles have a greyish-brown colouration, similar to that of the females, with a blotchy or spotted chest.

Naming

The nominate race is found in the Western Ghats and parts of southern India while "leggei" is found in Sri Lanka. Race "indicus" is found in the northern parts of India. Race "albiventris" is found in the Andaman Islands and now usually considered a distinct species, the Andaman shama. Race "interpositus" from southwester Asia-China to Myanmar, Thailand and the Mergui Archipelago. Southern China has race "minor" while "mallopercnus" is found in the Malay peninsula. Race "tricolor" is found in the Sumatra, Java, Banka, Belitung and Karimata islands. Race "mirabilis" from the Sunda Strait, "melanurus" from northwestern Sumatra, "opisthopelus", "javanus", "omissus", "ochroptilus", "abbotti", "eumesus", "suavis", "nigricauda", "stricklandii" and "barbouri" are the other island forms. The last two are sometimes regarded as a separate species, the white-crowned shama.

Distribution

They are native to South and Southeast Asia, but have been introduced to Kauai, Hawaii, in early 1931 from Malaysia, and to Oahu in 1940. Their popularity as a cage bird has led to many escaped birds establishing themselves. They have been introduced to Taiwan where they are considered an invasive species, eating native insect species and showing aggression towards native bird species.

In Asia, their habitat is dense undergrowth especially in bamboo forests. In Hawaii, they are common in valley forests or on the ridges of the southern Koolaus, and tend to nest in undergrowth or low trees of lowland broadleaf forests.

Habitat

They are native to South and Southeast Asia, but have been introduced to Kauai, Hawaii, in early 1931 from Malaysia, and to Oahu in 1940. Their popularity as a cage bird has led to many escaped birds establishing themselves. They have been introduced to Taiwan where they are considered an invasive species, eating native insect species and showing aggression towards native bird species.

In Asia, their habitat is dense undergrowth especially in bamboo forests. In Hawaii, they are common in valley forests or on the ridges of the southern Koolaus, and tend to nest in undergrowth or low trees of lowland broadleaf forests.

Reproduction

The white-rumped shama is shy and somewhat crepuscular 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, but each sex may have different territories when they are not breeding.

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

The nest is built by the female alone while the male stands guard. The nests are mainly made of roots, leaves, ferns, and stems, and incubation lasts between 12 and 15 days and the nestling period averaged 12.4 days. Both adults feed the young although only the female incubates and broods. The eggs are white to light aqua, with variable shades of brown blotching, with dimensions of about 18 and 23 mm.

Food

They feed on insects in the wild but in captivity they may be fed on a diet of boiled, dried legumes with egg yolk and raw meat.