White-crowned shama
Introduction The '''white-crowned shama''' ('''''Copsychus stricklandii''''') is a bird in the Old World flycatcher family. It is endemic to the Southeast Asian island of Borneo.
Taxonomy It is closely related to the white-rumped shama (''Copsychus malabaricus''), and is sometimes considered a subspecies of that species. In turn, the white-crowned shama has two subspecies:*''C. s. stricklandii'' Motley & Dillwyn, 1855 – north and north-eastern Borneo, including Banggi Island*''C. s. barbouri'' (Bangs & Peters, 1927) (Maratua Shama) – Maratua IslandsThe specific name was bestowed in honour of Hugh Edwin Strickland
Description The white-crowned shama is about  in length (including a  tail in adult males) and  in weight. Mainly blue-black upperparts contrast with orange-rufous underparts. It has a white rump and black throat. It is largely similar in appearance to the white-rumped shama subspecies ''C. m. suavis'', which replaces it in southern and western Borneo, and hybridises with it where the ranges meet. It differs in having a white, rather than black, crown. The distinctive Maratua form ''C. s. barbouri'' is about 20% longer than the nominate, and has an all-black tail, rather than white outer rectrices.
Aviculture White-crowned shamas are bred by local aviculturists in Borneo as cage-birds valued for their singing ability. They continue to be trapped as it is believed that wild-caught young birds are stronger, and better songsters, than those bred in captivity.
References