The Oriental Magpie Robin, which is a
common sight in South China parks, is an
unmistakable bird which looks like a much smaller version of the Black-billed
Magpie. Once placed in the family of thrushes, “Turdidae,” it is now slotted in
the family, “Muscicapidae,” the family of flycatchers.
This species is a non-migratory bird of Bangladesh , India ,
Pakistan , and Southeast
Asia, including China , Indonesia , Thailand
and the Philippines China , it is found in the
southern half of the country including the central portion of the country, as
well as Tibet
The male of the species is a beautifully-patterned
black and white bird, while the female is a greyer version of the male.
The Oriental Magpie Robin favors open
wooded areas and cultivated areas such as gardens and parks. This preference of
habitat makes it an ideal city-dweller.
During the breeding season, the male of the
species becomes extremely animated and can be seen singing loudly from a perch
high in a tree while puffing his feathers and fanning his tail in his attempts
to attract a mate.
After mating, the female will lay 4-5 eggs
in a nest she constructed in a cavity of a tree or wall. The female takes most
of the responsibility for the raising of chicks while the male will
aggressively defend their nesting territory.
This species is primarily an insectivore
with its diet consisting mainly of insects and other invertebrates. On
occasion, they will consume small lizards and even fish.
The Oriental Magpie Robin is still a fairly
common bird within its Chinese range, but its population has declined, especially
around Hong Kong , due to its frequent capture
for the caged bird trade and the introduction of invasive species such as the
Common Mynah.
As a bird of such striking beauty, this
species is well-loved throughout its Asian range. It is highly admired by cage
bird collectors for its beautiful singing, and it is the national bird of Bangladesh
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Oriental Magpie Robin in
moult (Photo by Brian Westland)
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