Indian Blue Robin

In my previous posting of the White Rumped Shama I mentioned that a recent article appeared in Tamil papers about the sighting of two bird species not normally seen in these parts. The earlier posting was about the White Rumped Shama, this posting is about the second bird, the Indian Blue Robin. 

Female Adult Indian Blue Robin

The migratory Indian Blue Robin generally chooses for its winter habitat dense and dark forest with undergrowth and leaf litter thus indicating, as the report points out, the improved quality of the forest around Arunachala. 

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The Indian Blue Robin (Luscinia Brunnea) is a small bird found in South Asia. The bird is also known in the Indian subcontinent by its older name of Indian Blue Chat (Erithacus brunneus). 

The Indian Blue Robin is similar in size to the sparrow. Formerly considered а Thrush, іt іs nоw considered оne оf the Old World Flycatchers іn the family Muscicapidae. 

Male Adult Indian Blue Robing scavenging for food

Although this bird is no longer is no longer categorised as a Thrush, it shares a large number of Thrush characteristics. Below is a fascinating excerpt from “Garden and Aviary Bird of India”, by Frank Finn (1915). 

“Thrushes form a very large family of birds, for in addition to the fairly large species to which the term Thrush is usually applied, the small Robins, Chats and Redstars are included in it. All these birds have a strong family resemblance, but their general appearance is hard to describe. They have a neat well-proportioned form, with wings, tail and legs, all of moderate length as a rule and their bills are small and slight. 

Observation shows that Thrushes are usually surly and solitary and they never take hold of things with their foot, but only use their bill in breaking up a large insect. They are mainly insect-eaters, but the larger species also devour a considerable amount of fruit. They are good fliers, many of them being migratory and fairly active on the ground, where the smaller kinds hop, while the large ones alternatively hop and run. “ 

Male Indian Blue Robin

The Indian Blue Robin іs migratory, breeding іn the forests along the Himalayas оf Nepal, India аnd Myanmar and wintering in the hill forests of the Western Ghats оf India аnd іn Sri Lanka. 

The adult male is a stunning bird, with blue upperparts, and underparts which are mainly bright orange with white on the lower belly and undertail. There is a long white supercilium and a black eye mask which flares out behind the eye. The female is much drabber, with brown upperparts and buff underparts, and white on the throat and belly. Young birds resemble the female, but the brown plumage looks scaly. 

Its winter habitat in the South is usually dense and dark forest with undergrowth and leaf litter. It is terrestrial, forest haunting and unobtrusive. It skulks in undergrowth and hops on the ground, frequently flicking and fanning its tail. It Keeps singly in heavy undergrowth. The Indian Blue Robin diet consists mainly of insects. 

It sings and calls in its winter grounds. The song consists of sudden and sharp series of whistles ending in a rapid series of notes. They also utter a sharp and low clicking alarm note. 

Male Indian Blue Robin

Its nest consists of a large cup of vegetation placed on the ground between the roots of large fir tree or in depression. The nest is lined with roots, hair and down. The usual clutch is four light blue eggs. Incubation is by female by feeding is by both sexes. The cuckoo Cuculus canorus has been recorded in old literature as a brood parasite of the species.

To hear the Blue Robin calling please check out this link here. 

The below video (no audio) is of the Indian Blue Robin scavenging on the ground for food.

White Rumped Shama

This week an article appeared in Tamil papers about the sighting of two birds not normally seen in these parts. The bird species are the White Rumped Shama and the Indian Blue Robin both sighted on the peripheries of Arunachala Hill.

The report noted that the Shama, the best songster of South India generally lives in evergreen forests and the fact that the species is now frequenting this area indicates the improved quality of the forest around Arunachala.

This posting, a composite of photographs and videos from the Internet, is of the White Rumped Shama. I will dedicate a separate posting to the Indian Blue Robin.

The White-Rumped Shama (Copsychus Malabaricus) is a small passerine bird of the family Muscicapidae. It tends to nest near the ground in undergrowth or low trees of lowland broadleaf forests or foothills, especially in bamboo and teak forests. This bird is one of the most beautiful songsters of India.

The Shama Singing - Responding to Whistles in the Forest 

Male Shama

It weighs between 1-1.2 ounces and measures around 10-11 inches including tail length. These birds have a slim build and long tails with graduated feathers. Males are a shiny black with a brown belly and white feathers on the rump and the outermost parts of the tail. Females are generally smaller than the males, and have a more grayish brown colouration with a light coloured belly. Both sexes have a black bill and pink feet. Juveniles have a greyish-brown colouration, similar to that of the females, with a blotchy or spotted chest. 

Male Shama bathing

As well as the distinct pattern of white feathers on its rump and outer tail, this bird is also known for its repetitive behavior of the sudden raising and gradual lowering of the tail. This bird’s diet consists of Grasshoppers, Crickets, Meal-worms, Earthworms and Guppies. 

Female Shama

The White-Rumped Shama is shy but very territorial. The territories include a male and female during the breeding season with the males defending the territory but each sex may have different territories when they are not breeding. 

Female with Nesting Material

In South Asia, this species breeds mainly in April to June laying a clutch of four or five eggs in a nest placed in the hollow of tree. During courtship, the male pursues the female, alights above the female, gives a shrill call and then flicks and fans out its tail feathers. This is followed by a rising and falling flight pattern by both sexes. If the male is unsuccessful, the female will threaten the male, gesturing with the mouth open. 

Batch of 5 Shama Eggs

The female builds a nest of roots, leaves, ferns and stems. Incubation lasts between 12-15 days and may be conducted by the female parent or by both parents. Brooding is done by females between 5 and 7 days. One egg is laid per day, yet all eggs usually hatch on the same day during the morning hours. 

Shama Hatchling in Nest

Both adults feed the young although only the female incubates and broods. The eggs are white to light aqua, with variable shades of brown blotching with dimensions of about 0.7 and 0.9 in. Hatchlings are blind and featherless. The eyes open after 6 days and feathers are completely developed after 11 days, during which time the juveniles begin to preen. 

Young Shama Chick