Oriental Magpie-Robin: how to recognise it
A bird of Asia. Learn the marks that make it easy to identify, then practise with real photographs in Lore.
Practise with real photosAll species guides
Photo © Sam Hambly · CC BY-NC · iNaturalist · all photo credits
- Scientific name
- Copsychus saularis
- Family
- Old World Flycatchers, Robins, and Chats
- Size
- About 20 cm
- Habitat
- Gardens, villages and open woodland
- Found in
- Asia
The key marks
Slim black-and-white bird with a long tail often held cocked; the male is glossy black on head, chest and back, with a white belly and white wing stripe. Madagascar Magpie-Robin lives only on Madagascar; its male is often black below too, with a white shoulder patch.
Voice
A clear, whistled song of varied phrases and a harsh, scolding call.
Good to know
It is the national bird of Bangladesh, where males sing from high perches and defend their territory fiercely.
Do not confuse with
Compare it with the Madagascar Magpie-Robin. Look at the marks above one by one rather than the overall colour, and practise telling the two apart with real photos.
Where and when
You can expect to find it in gardens, villages and open woodland. It is especially common in Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal and China. Distribution changes with the seasons and from year to year, so check a recent local observation source before you go looking.