Copsychus+saularis

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 * Oriental Magpie-robin ** //Copsychus saularis// (Linnaeus, 1758) Other vernacular names: Magpie Robin, //Murai Kampung//, //Cerang//

=**Overview **= The Oriental Magpie-robin (//Copsychus saularis//) is an unmistakable small passerine that is resident throughout its extensive range, including Singapore. In Singapore, the species used to be one of the most common birds. However, with habitat lost and competition from introduced bird species, the Oriental Magpie-robin's population drastically declined. Its population was further reduced by poaching, both in Singapore and most of its Southeast Asian range, as the Oriental Magpie-robin is highly soughed after by the caged bird trade for its charismatic song. In recent years, the local population is recovering and can be found throughout Singapore.

=**Etymology **= The Oriental Magpie-robin is neither a magpie nor a robin, but is in fact an old world flycatcher (see section on Phylogeny). Its common name originated from its black and white plumage resembling a magpie, while its jerky movements, tail fanning, and confiding habits resembles that of a robin. Its common name was revised from just Magpie-robin to Oriental Magpie-robin to conform to general world usage.

 The species epithet of the Oriental Magpie-robin, //saularis//, derives from the Hindi name //saulary//. Earlier authors suggest that Linnaeus, thinking that Latham's 'Dial-bird' (Hindi //dhaiyal//, magpie robin) had something to do with a sun-dial, meant to name it //solaris// (Latin solaris, solar, of the sun) but by a slip of the pen wrote //saularis//.

=**Description **= //Descriptions are based on Wells (2007) and specific to the subspecies found in Singapore. //

 The Oriental Magpie-robin is a medium sized bird of 19 -21 cm that exhibits sexual dimorphism. Features present in all are black bills and slaty black legs.
 * =  ||= ===Adult Male === ||= ===Adult Female === ||= ===Juvenile === ||
 * =  || [[image:Male Oriental Magpie-robin 1.jpg width="335" height="306" align="center" caption="Photograph by Seng Alvin (2015)"]] || [[image:Female Oriental Magpie-robin 1.jpg width="278" height="306" align="center" caption="Photograph by Seng Alvin (2015)"]] || [[image:Juvenile Oriental Magpie-robin 1.jpg width="328" height="306" align="center" caption="Photograph by Seng Alvin (2015)"]] ||
 * = **Head ** || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Whole head, upper body and chin to square-cut lower margin of breast rich, glossy, blue-shot black || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Whole head, upper body and chin to square-cut lower margin of breast mid-grey. || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Lores and narrow eye-ring variably speckled. Rest of head, upperparts to tail coverts, dull sooty. Chin to breast pale grey, feathers shading to orange buff distally, and fringed sooty brown in an obscure scaly pattern. Fleshy gape present. ||
 * = **<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Wing ** || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Outer-webs of secondaries 6-7 white, combined with white coverts and scapulars to form long bar across the inner part of the closed wing. All other flight feathers matt black. || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Wing similar to male. || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Wings as in adults except the white coverts suffused orange buff and fringed sooty. Bar along secondaries narrower, washed orange buff towards its tip. Outer webs of flight feathers to primary 9 edged dull rufous. ||
 * = **<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Tail ** || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Tail feathers 1-3 matt black, 4-6 all white. || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Tail similar to male || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Tail as adult except dark parts are sooty. ||
 * = **<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Underparts ** || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Remaining underparts from belly to under tail coverts, white. || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Rump and upper tail coverts gradually darkening to all slaty black, lightly glossy but never as richly black as male. Remaining underparts white. Flanks and lower tail coverts variably washed buff grey. || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Belly white shading variably to buff on flanks and lower tail coverts. ||

=**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 160%;">Diagnosis **= <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">The Oriental Magpie-robin is easily mistaken for the White-rumped Shama (//Copsychus malabaricus//), a closely related species, due to the similar built and head colouration. It has also been confused with the Pied Fantail (//Rhipidura javanica//) because of the similar pied plumage that both species share. All three species occur in Singapore.

> glossy blue-shot black (male), mid grey (female) > glossy blue black (male), matt grey (female)
 * = **<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Oriental Magpie-robin **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">(//Copsychus saularis//) ** ||= **<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">White-rumped Shama **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">(//Copsychus malabaricus//) ** ||= **<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Pied Fantail **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">(//Rhipidura javanica//) ** ||
 * = [[image:Oriental Magpie-Robin_Michael Khor_elizengyx.jpg width="239" height="294" align="center" caption="Photograph by Michael Khor (2015)"]] || [[image:White-rumped shama_benson brighton_elizengyx.jpg width="316" height="295" align="center" caption="Photograph by Benson Brighton (2015)"]] || [[image:Rhipidura javanica_elizengyx.jpg width="205" height="297" align="center" caption="Photograph by JJ Harrison (2011) [CC BY-SA 3.0]"]] ||
 * * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">19 - 21cm
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Head, upper breast and upper parts:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">White wing bar present
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">White underside || * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">21.5 - 28 cm
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Head, upper breast and upper parts:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">White rump present
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Orange rufous underside
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Tail up to 18cm, much longer than in Oriental Magpie-robins || * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">17.5 - 19.5 cm
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Thin white supercilium
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Black breast band, crown, face and upperparts
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">White collar, lower breast and underparts ||

=**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 160%;">Habitat and Distribution **=

**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Habitat **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">Oriental Magpie-robins inhabit a spectrum of habitats that include dry deciduous forest, disturbed peatswamp-forest, along the banks of large rivers through forest, forest edges, bamboo, gardens, parkland, and beach strand vegetation. In Singapore, the species occurs in mangroves, secondary forests, forest edges, gardens, and parks.

**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; line-height: 1.5;">Global Range **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">The Oriental Magpie-robin has a huge global range extending across 9 countries, from the Indian subcontinent to Borneo and Bali. The species has been recorded to be an established exotic in Taiwan that is increasing in numbers. The species can be found at elevations of up to 1900m. Across its vast distribution, variation in plumage character suggests multiple species may be present in the species, with a recent taxonomic split of the Philippine population (see section on Phylogeny).



**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Distribution in Singapore **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">In Singapore, it is an uncommon resident found in nature areas throughout mainland and offshore islands, refer to the map below for specific localities (the map was complied from various sources   and personal observations).



=**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 160%;">Biology **=

**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Vocalization **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">The prized asset of the Oriental Magpie-robin is none other than its strong melodious song that is highly variable. Its song has been described to be similar to the song of the White-rumped Shama but lack similar quality. The Oriental Magpie-robin has the ability to mimic the songs of other birds. Unfortunately, its song is also appreciated by man which led to its decline in parts of Southeast Asia (see section on Global Threats and Threats in Singapore).

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Songs of the Oriental Magpie-robin include rather sharp warbled phrases interspersed with held or up- or down-inflected glissalding whistles. The Oriental Magpie-robin is also known to have six call types that include - dawn emergence and roosting calls, threat calls, submissive calls, begging calls and distress calls. The Oriental Magpie-robin is known to perch on open posts to sing.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Video records of the variable songs capable of the Oriental Magpie-robin: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 1.5;"> media type="youtube" key="zU8W1B3-uNc" width="462" height="263"

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 1.5;"> media type="youtube" key="57io0H9TntI" width="464" height="264"

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 1.5;"> media type="youtube" key="RPInh5NyhXg" width="467" height="269"

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;"> A raspy alert call by a male, with sonogram depicting the call in a series of bars: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 1.5;"> media type="file" key="Copsychus_saularis_V9usa12_JH.mp3" width="240" height="20" <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Recording by [|Josep del Hoyo] (2012)

**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Social Organisation and Interactions **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">The Oriental Magpie-robin is a resident breeder within its range and is know to be an active disperser. They are extremely territorial and both sexes will aggressively defend their territory, especially during breeding season. During the breeding season, mean territorial ranges are about 1.3ha. Both sexes regularly cock their tails vertically and fan it to expose the white margins.

**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Feeding Habits **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">The Oriental Magpie-robin is typically insectivorous and feeds on a range of insects — crickets, beetles, ants, wasps, termites, and flies — and other invertebrates that include leeches, molluscs, crabs, and spiders. In certain instances, small vertebrates such as lizards, geckos, and fishes; nectar, seeds, and fruits are also consumed.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;"> The Oriental Magpie-robin feeds largely on the ground, hopping about in an upright stance. They are also known to have shrike-like still-hunting from a vantage perch and capture ground animal prey, especially small vertebrates. The species is usually seen foraging solitary or in pairs.


 * [[image:OMR with prey (Seng Alvin)_elizengyx.jpg width="534" height="389" caption="Oriental Magpie-robin with invertebrate prey (Photograph by Seng Alvin, 2015)"]] || [[image:OMR with prey (too seng)_elizengyx.jpg width="293" height="392" caption="Oriental Magpie-robin with a gecko (Photograph by Tia Too Seng, 2013)"]] ||

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%; line-height: 1.5;"> Video of a male capturing a grasshopper whilst hopping on the ground <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 1.5;"> media type="youtube" key="GgB0XighY7w" width="560" height="315"

**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; line-height: 1.5;">Reproduction **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">Oriental Magpie-robins have nesting sites in natural cavities 2 - 7m above ground in the axil of palm fronds, rotten tree stumps, hollow logs, and broken bamboo clumps, amongst others. Artificial equivalents include letter boxes, and electrical switch boxes. Nests are often filled with pads of grass, fibers, hair, feathers, snakeskin. Nests are constructed between January and June.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;"> The eggs are blue green with brown molting. Generally, 2-5 eggs are laid and they are incubated for periods of up to weeks. A second clutch of eggs are sometimes laid even before the full independence of the first brood. Both male and female tend to their young. Juveniles from the first brood were recorded to assist their parents in feeding the second brood of nestlings.


 * [[image:OMR eggs_elizengyx.jpg width="425" height="340" caption="Blue green eggs with brown splotches of the Oriental Magpie-robin (Photograph by Neenad Abhang, 2013) (Permission pending)"]] || [[image:OMR nest sites4_elizengyx (henry goh).JPG width="496" height="344" caption="Fledglings awaiting their parent's return (Photograph by Henry Goh, 2011) (Permission pending)"]] ||

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Anting Behaviour
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">The Oriental Magpie-robin has been observed to practice anting - the application of ants or any other insects to their plumage. The functional behaviour for anting is still vague, but it has been hypothesized to include: removing ectoparasites, grooming feathers, decreasing skin irritation during moult, and acting as a sensory stimulus.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Video of an Oriental Magpie-robin anting with a millipede <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 1.5;"> media type="youtube" key="q59eIP9Feo8" width="560" height="315"

=**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 160%;">Conservation Status **=

**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">IUCN Status **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">The Oriental Magpie-robin is listed as least concerned on the IUCN red list in 2012 due to its large range, and stable global population size which according to the range size criterion does not reach Vulnerable thresholds. The global population was not quantified but known to be common in India, Sri Lanka, China, Hong Kong, Thailand. Since the inception of the IUCN red list, this species has always been listed as a species of least concern.

**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Global Threats **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">Prized for its melodious song, the Oriental Magpie-robin has been poached to near extinction in Indonesia. Its decline is mainly fueled by songbird competitions, a popular hobby in Indonesia, with Oriental Magpie-robins having an official song contest class. It is the third most popular and prestigious species after the Long tailed Shrike (//Lanius schach//) and White-rumped Shama (//Copsychus malabaricus//). Based on market surveys, the species is proposed to be severely declining.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Besides being captured for the caged bird trade, Oriental Magpie-robins are also trapped for its meat in Medan as it is believed to cure speaking disorders. In Vietnam, Oriental Magpie-robins are one of many species captured indiscriminately for merit release by Buddhist believers daily.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Video of poachers trapping the Oriental Magpie-robin using a caged individual to lure wild individuals: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 1.5;"> media type="youtube" key="sLo1Zxy1uyg" height="269" width="467"

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Video of poached birds, including an Oriental Magpie-robin (at 4:59) sold in a Vietnam bird market: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 1.5;"> media type="youtube" key="Qht3m_J9ZZ0" height="269" width="467"

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Video of Oriental Magpie-robins competing in a song competition: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 1.5;"> media type="youtube" key="h23YNXRUcSo" height="269" width="467"

**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Threats in Singapore **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">During the 1920s, the Oriental Magpie-robin was one of three most common birds in Singapore. By the 1940s, its population was declining, and by the 1960s it is recognized as being uncommon. Its decline was attributed to rapid urbanisation which resulted in habitat loss and poaching. Additionally, competition for nesting space from more aggressive and abundant exotic species such as the White-vented Myna (//Acridotheres javanicus//) and Common Myna (//Acridotheres tristis//) also contributed to its decline. By 1984, there were only 15 wild individuals found on mainland. A reintroduction program started in 1984 with about 40 releases over a two year period in various protected areas reversed the decline, but progress was slow. In a 1996 survey, only 114 birds were recorded. The species is considered to be endangered in Singapore.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Despite being punishable by law, poaching of wildlife (including Oriental Magpie-robins) still occur in Singapore, albeit to a lesser extent. Penalties for poaching wildlife in Singapore are:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">Under the [|Wild Animals and Birds Act (Chapter 351)], it is an offence to kill, take or keep any wild animal or bird without a licence. Any person found doing so will be fined a maximum of S$1,000.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">Under the [|Parks and Trees Act (Chapter 216)], it is an offence to capture, collect or remove any animal from the national parks and nature reserves. Any person found guilty of an offence can be fined up to S$50,000 or jailed for up to 6 months, or both.



<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;"> What can be done if poaching is observed (adapted from [|ACRES website]): > - If you are inside a protected area, contact **NParks** at their hotline **1800 4717300**. > - Alternatively, you can contact **AVA** hotline **1800 2262250** or **+65 63257625**. > - If you are unable to contact any of the above numbers, you can contact **ACRES Wildlife Crime** Hotline **+65 97837782**. __Note__: They are not an enforcement agency but they will be able to go to the site and wait for the authorities to arrive.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">Collect information, photographs or video evidence, of the traps, poachers, and any animals trapped. If the poacher uses a vehicle, take note of the license plate number and photograph of it.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">Call the relevant authorities:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">Do not attempt to release any trapped animals, wait for the authorities to arrive.

=**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 160%;">Taxonomy and Systematics **= <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">A hierarchical summary of the taxa within which the Oriental Magpie-robin is provided below: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Animalia > <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">Chordata >> <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">Aves >>> <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">Passeriformes >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">Muscicapidae >>>>> <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">//Copsychus// (Wagler, 1827) >>>>>> <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">//Copsychus saularis// (Linnaeus, 1758)

**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Subspecies **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">There are 13 subspecies that are currently recognized and //C. s. musicus// is the subspecies present in Singapore. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">(Linnaeus, 1758) || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Northeast Pakistan, and north, central and west India || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Sclater, 1861 || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">South India and Sri Lanka || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Oberholser, 1923 || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Northeast India to Thailand and Indochina || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Hume, 1874 || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Andaman Island || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Oberholser, 1923 || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">South and east China, Hainan Island (off Southeast China) || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">(Raffles, 1822) || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Belitung and Bangka Island, west Java, and south and west Borneo || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Oberholser, 1912 || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Simeulue Island (off Northwest Sumatra) || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Oberholser, 1923 || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Nias Island (off Northwest Sumatra) || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Ripley, 1943 || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Batu Island (off West Sumatra) || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Richmond, 1912 || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Mentawai Island (off West Sumatra) || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">(Horsfield, 1821) || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">East Java and Bali || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Bonaparte, 1850 || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Maratua Island, and east and southeast Borneo || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">Elliot, 1890 || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">North Borneo and Banggi Island ||
 * = **<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Subspecies ** ||= **<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Distribution ** ||
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">C. s. saularis //
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">C. s. ceylonensis //
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">C. s. erimelas //
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">C. s. andamanensis //
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">C. s. prosthopellus //
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">C. s. musicus //
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">C. s. zacnecus //
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">//C. s. nesiarchus//
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">C. s. masculus //
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">C. s. pagiensis //
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">//C. s. amoenus//
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">C. s. pluto //
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">//C. s. adamsi//

**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 150%;">Type Specimen **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">The species was first described by Linneaus (1758) from Bengal with the protonym, //Gracula saularis//. The type specimen is believed to be currently held at the Natural History Museum of Vienna that acquired specimens from the world famous Leverian Museum.



**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Phylogeny **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">The Oriental Magpie-robin was historically associated with the thrushes (Turdidae) based on the speckling on plumage in juveniles and the presence of a thumb-like syrinx musculature. Recent molecular studies found that the Oriental Magpie-robin was more closely related to the old world flycatchers and chats (Muscicapidae) and was reclassified accordingly.


 * [[image:Turdidae phylogeny1_elizengyx (Cropped).jpg width="513" height="664" caption="Relationships of Muscicapidae and Turdidae based on Bayesian analysis of combined mitochondrial cytochrome b, and nuclear ODC, myoglobin and LDH intron sequences (3240 bp). The Oriental Magpie-robin's position is indicated by the red outline. (Figure adapted from Sangster et al., 2010)."]] || [[image:Turdidae phylogeny2_elizengyx (Cropped) .jpg width="499" height="663" caption="The majority rule consensus tree for the Muscicapinae complex obtained from the mixed-model Bayesian analysis of the concatenated dataset which included five genes (G3P, myoglobin, ODC, PEPCK, ND2). The Oriental Magpie-robin's position is indicated by the red outline. (Figure adapted from Zuccon & Ericson, 2009)."]] ||

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;"> A study on the Shamas and Magpie-robins revealed that the Rufous-tailed Shama (//Trichixos pyrropygus//) is sister to the Magpie-robins, and together they are sister to the //Copsychus// Shamas. The study also revealed that //C. albospecularis// of Madagascar and //C. sechellarum// of Seychelles are sister to the Oriental Magpie-robin (//C. saularis//).



<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Within the Magpie-robins, //C. saularis// was found to be polyphyletic as the Malagasy population (//C. albospecularis//) was between the Philippine and the remaining //C. saularis// populations. The study went on to propose for the Philippine population to be recognized as a distinct species on the basis that it is not monophyletic with other //C. saularis// populations, distinctive plumage (all black tail), and substantial genetic difference (6%). The Philippine population has since been recognized as a species in recent checklists.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;"> The phylogenetic relationship of Oriental Magpie-robins from Singapore are inconclusive as the sample(s) may have originated from elsewhere (Sumatra or Java), which resulted in the substantial divergence between the Singapore individuals (31 and 32 in figure below). There was minimal genetic differences (1%) between the Sino-Indian and western Sundaic Magpie-robins, which were then included within //C. saularis//.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;"> Black-bellied taxa from east Borneo (//adamsi// and //pluto//; individuals from clade C in figure below) and presumably east Java (//amoenus//) have substantial genetic differences from the remaining populations constituting //C. saularis//. Despite distinct plumage and genetic differences, the black-bellied taxa hybridized with the white-bellied individuals of //C. s. musicus//. These hybrid individuals have intermediate plumage and occurred widely on both side of the contact zone. As such the Sheldon //et al//. (2009) conservatively subsumed the black-bellied taxa in //C. saularis//.



**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Genetic Resources **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">[|Genbank] has barcode sequences of the Oriental Magpie-robin for several genes including: ND2, CO1, Fib5 and ctyb. The full genome of the Oriental Magpie-robin has not been sequenced, and the closest reference genome for the species will be the Collared Flycatcher (//Ficedula albicollis//).

=**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Literature Cited **=