🐦 White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus) – The Forest Nightingale of South Asia

The White-rumped Shama is a shy, melodious songbird revered for its flute-like, far-carrying call. Often heard before it’s seen, this bird dwells in dense undergrowth of forests, thickets, and groves, where it sings with remarkable variation. Though more common in inland forests and hilly regions, it can occasionally be found in the higher tree groves and fringe forests of the Sundarbans, particularly near undisturbed forest patches.

🏷 Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Passeriformes
• Family: Muscicapidae
• Genus: Copsychus
• Species: Copsychus malabaricus

🎼 Nicknamed the “Nightingale of the East”, the White-rumped Shama’s complex song makes it a favorite among bird lovers and birdwatchers.

🔬 Morphology & Physical Characteristics

• Size: Medium, about 21–28 cm (8–11 inches) in length including the long tail.
• Weight: Roughly 30–45 grams.
• Coloration:
  • Males: Glossy black head and upperparts with a rich orange-rufous belly and a prominent white rump and outer tail feathers.
  • Females: Duller greyish-brown above, paler orange below.
• Distinct Features:
  • Very long tail, often fanned and flicked.
  • Slender, upright stance on perches.
  • Dark eyes and fine black bill, ideal for precision insect catching.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

The White-rumped Shama is native to South and Southeast Asia, thriving in dense forests, bamboo thickets, forest edges, and shaded groves.

🌎 Widespread in:
✅ India (Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, NE states), Sri Lanka, Nepal, Southeast Asia.
✅ Occasionally seen in dense vegetated zones of the Sundarbans’ fringe areas.
✅ Lowland and foothill forests, but also in rural gardens with thick shrubbery.

📌 Preferred Habitat:

• Dense forest undergrowth and moist thickets.
• Mango groves, forest reserves, and sacred groves.
• Rarely in open or saline environments like mangrove interiors, but possible near freshwater belts.

✨ Special Features & Adaptations

1️⃣ Master Songster – Can produce a complex variety of melodious whistles, chatters, and mimicry. 🎶
2️⃣ Secretive & Skulking – Prefers to stay low in dense foliage, emerging only to sing. 🌿
3️⃣ Insectivorous Diet – Feeds on ants, beetles, worms, spiders, and sometimes small fruits. 🪱🕷️
4️⃣ Cavity Nester – Nests in tree holes, bamboo hollows, and fallen logs. 🪵
5️⃣ Courtship Through Song – Males often sing elaborate songs to woo females, including mimicry of other birds.

🌿 Presence in the Sundarbans

The White-rumped Shama is not a mangrove core species, but it is occasionally seen in:

📌 Forested village edges and orchard groves bordering the Sundarbans.
📌 Thick, less saline forest patches with shade and ground cover.
📌 Areas with bamboo clusters and dense underbrush, often near fresh water.

🌳 Sightings are more likely in protected buffer zones, especially where human disturbance is minimal and natural tree hollows are available for nesting.

⚠️ Threats & Conservation Concerns

🚨 Cage bird trade – Popular in illegal pet markets for its singing ability.
🚨 Deforestation and underbrush clearance – Removes nesting and feeding zones.
🚨 Pesticide use – Reduces the availability of insect prey.
🚨 Fragmentation of forests – Disrupts breeding and roosting habits.

✅ Conservation Measures

✔ Ban on bird trapping and trade enforcement.
✔ Preservation of native groves and old trees in rural zones.
✔ Eco-tourism-led birdwatching trails in Sundarban villages.
✔ Organic farming practices in buffer regions to protect insect food chains.

🚨 Conservation Status

📌 IUCN Red List: Least Concern ✅ (But under threat in some regions due to trapping).
📌 CITES: Appendix II (Regulated trade).
📌 Indian Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule IV

Though widespread, the species is under pressure from the illegal songbird trade and habitat degradation.

The White-rumped Shama is an elegant, enchanting forest bird, whose melody is nature’s gift to silence. Its shy but soulful presence in the Sundarbans’ tree groves and buffer zones adds to the region’s hidden biodiversity. Conserving dense green habitats and discouraging bird trade are vital to ensure that this songbird continues to sing in freedom. 🌳🎶🐦

🌟 Credit Note

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For more details, visit the White-rumped Shama Wikipedia Page.