The white-browed shama (Copsychus luzoniensis) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found only on the islands of Luzon,Marinduque and the Polillo Islands. The Visayan shama (C. superciliaris), formerly considered a subspecies, was split as a distinct species in 2021.[2]
| White-browed shama | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Muscicapidae |
| Genus: | Copsychus |
| Species: | C. luzoniensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Copsychus luzoniensis (Kittlitz, 1832)
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Description and taxonomy
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EBird describes the bird as "A medium-sized, long-tailed bird of lowland and foothill forest. Male has a black head, upperparts and chest, a single white wingbar, a white belly, pale orange sides, and white outer tail feathers. The female has a gray chest and face with a brown cheek, crown, back, and wings.Heard more often than seen. Song is a pleasant and varied whistled melody, often finishing in a low, descending warbling trill.[3]
They exhibit sexual dimorphism in which females are paler with a gray chest and face with brown head, back and wings.[4]
Subspecies
editThree subspecies are recognized:
- C. l. luzoniensis - Found on Luzon and Catanduanes
- C. l. parvimaculatus - Found on the Polillo Islands; darker rump and has lesser extent of white on its tail tip
- C. l. shemleyi - Found on Marinduque; darker rump and has greater extent of white on its tail tip
These subspecies are poorly differentiated and likely will be lumped in the future.
Ecology and behavior
editPressumed to feed on small insects and larvae. Typically foundin pairs foraging in the dense and lower foilage. This species is believed to be territorial.
Breeding occurs in April and may. Nest is described as cub of grass and dry leaves. Lays 2 pale green eggs with reddish brown spots.
Habitat and conservation status
editFound in primary forest, mature secondary forest typically in below 1,000 masl. It is believed to be generally common.
This species has been assessed as Least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as it remains locally common and relatively tolerant to disturbed habitats. This species is still believed to be on the decline due to the extensive habitat clearance. This species' main threat is habitat loss with wholesale clearance of forest habitats as a result of logging, agricultural conversion and mining activities occurring within the range. This species is found in a few protected areas including Bataan National Park, Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Angat Watershed Forest Reserve, Mount Makiling, Kalbario–Patapat Natural Park, Bicol Natural Park and Bulusan Volcano Natural Park but actual protection from deforestation is still lax. [4]
References
edit- ^ BirdLife International (2012). "Copsychus luzoniensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ^ "Species Updates – IOC World Bird List". Retrieved 2021-05-27.
- ^ "White-browed Shama - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
- ^ a b Collar, Nigel; Kirwan, Guy M. (2020). "White-browed Shama (Copsychus luzoniensis), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.whbsha1.01species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN 2771-3105.
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