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To the Beauty of Birds

The White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus is a small passerine bird of the family Muscicapidae. It was formerly classified as a member of the thrush family, Turdidae, causing it to be commonly known as the White-rumped Shama Thrush, Magpie Robin or simply Shama Thrush.
They are native to South and Southeast Asia, but have been introduced to Kaua’I, Hawaii in early 1931 from Maylasia (by Alexander Isenberger), and to O’ahu in 1940 (by the Hui Manu Society). 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 Ko’olas, and tend to nest in undergrowth or low trees of lowland broadleaf forests.
Males are glossy black with a chestnut belly and white feathers on the rump and outer tail. Females are more grayish-brown, and are typically shorter than males. Both sexes have a black bill and pink feet.

These were photographed at the Honolulu Zoo.

White-rumped Shama

White-rumped Shama female 3450

White-rumped Shama female 5056

White-rumped Shama female 3463

White-rumped Shama female 3468

White-rumped Shama female 3475

White-rumped Shama female 3505

White-rumped Shama