Black shama

Copsychus cebuensis

Flaying Animal | Copsychus cebuensis | Black shama | The black shama is a medium-sized bird with entirely black plumage. The male has a dark bluish sheen to its plumage, whilst the female is a little more blackish grey, and smaller than the male. The tail is long and graduated, the bill is black and the eyes are dark brown. Juveniles are greyer with browner wings . The black shama’s song is a rich, varied series of melodious whistles, and it is also known to mimic the sounds of other birds

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, and plantations.It has been sighted in several locations all across the island, the most important sites being the Central Cebu Protected Landscape, the forests of Alcoy and Argao, and the shrublands of Casili, Consolacion. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Copsychus cebuensis

Biology – Black shama
The black shama is an unobtrusive bird, often heard before it is seen, probably due to its inconspicuous appearance and its preference for skulking in the dense understorey of forest. The breeding season extends from February to September, when two to three eggs are laid in cup-shaped nests, often found placed in the sawed or broken ends of bamboo stalks. The only information known about this secretive bird’s diet comes from the contents of a female’s stomach, which contained small, black beetles.

Copsychus cebuensis

Ecology  It inhabits primary forest and the dense undergrowth of secondary habitats, including scrub and cut-over forests, plantations, and bamboo groves.

Copsychus cebuensis

Kingdom    Animalia
Phylum      Chordata
Class         Aves
Order        Passeriformes
Family       Muscicapidae
Genus        Copsychus

Size    Length: 20 cm

Copsychus cebuensis

Habitat
Inhabits forest and dense thickets, bamboo groves, scrub, deforested land and plantations.

Copsychus cebuensis

Copsychus cebuensis

Trend justification 

Rapid population declines are suspected to be on-going as the area of remaining habitat suitable for this species is tiny, and continues to suffer from degradation and clearance.

Copsychus cebuensis