What’s the Another name for magpie-robins? The Seychelles Magpie Robin is found mainly in woodlands, gardens and coastal forests, and its glossy plumage can turn purple or blue in good light. The bird, known for its slow, melodious whistle, has seen a remarkable resurgence thanks to concerted conservation efforts.
Organizations such as BirdLife International and Nature Seychelles have played a key role in bringing the bird’s population down to less than 250 today. Explore birdsofjoy.com !
Classification and description another name for magpie-robins
Classification
Other name for magpie-robins is Copsychus sechellarum, genus Copsychus and family Muscicapidae, commonly known as the magpie-robin family. The taxonomy of this species includes:
- Kingdom: Eukaryota
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Muscicapidae
This bird was first described by Newton in 1865. It originated in the Indian Ocean’s Seychelles Islands. Due to its limited distribution and declining population, this bird has become the focus of extensive conservation efforts.
Physical Characteristics
The Seychelles Magpie-robin is about 25 cm (9.8 in) long. Their body mass varies between sexes, with females weighing about 65 g (2.3 oz) and males weighing about 76 g (2.7 oz). The majority of this bird’s plumage is glossy black, with a prominent white patch on its wing when it is in flight. The tail is long and black, often visible when the bird is perched or moving.
The bill is slender and black, well suited to foraging in its native habitat. The legs and feet are also black, creating a stark contrast to its bright plumage. These physical features make the Seychelles nightingale easy to identify from other birds in the region. The combination of size, plumage and distinctive markings make up the main identification features of this bird.
Characteristics
This bird is small, reaching up to 19cm in length and weighing just 36g! It is distinctively black and white with a long tail, which is often held upright when hopping on the ground.
The male has black upperparts, head and throat, except for a white shoulder patch. While the underparts and sides of the long tail are white. The female is greyish-black above and greyish-white. Juveniles have scaly brown upperparts and heads.
Diet and Behavior
The Magpie’s diet consists primarily of insects and other invertebrates. Although primarily insectivorous, they also enjoy nectar, geckos, leeches, centipedes, and fish. In terms of reproduction, they can lay 4-5 eggs, with an incubation period of 18-24 days.
The Oriental Magpie has a sweet, low-pitched call. They use a variety of calls including territorial calls, appearance and perching calls, threat calls, submissive calls, begging calls, and distress calls. It’s refreshing to hear the magpie’s song for your mind!
Native Habitat
The Seychelles Magpie-robin is a bird that is well adapted to the environment of the Seychelles. It thrives in dense, mature native forests and is often found in secondary growth and plantations, especially where there is mixed vegetation. It prefers coastal environments where it can be found among coconut palms and broadleaf trees. It often uses gardens and cultivated areas for shelter and abundant food.
Population Distribution
The Seychelles Magpie-robin was formerly found on many islands in the Seychelles, including Aride, Cousin, Cousine, Denis and Frégate Island. However, habitat degradation and other factors have led to a significant decline in its numbers.
By the late 20th century, the Seychelles magpie population had declined to extremely low levels, with only a handful remaining on Frégate Island. Thanks to intensive conservation efforts, the population was reintroduced and grew on other islands. Conservation initiatives have expanded their presence to islands such as Cousin and Cousine, helping to stabilise and increase their numbers.
Conservation Status
The Seychelles magpie has faced serious challenges but has shown promising signs of recovery thanks to persistent conservation efforts.
IUCN Red List
The Seychelles magpie (Copsychus sechellarum) was once classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. However, successful conservation measures led to its status being downgraded to Endangered in 2005. Organizations such as BirdLife International and Nature Seychelles have played an important role in monitoring and conservation, contributing to the stability of its population.
Threats and Challenges
Habitat loss and predation by introduced species such as cats and rats have been the main threats to the Seychelles magpie. These threats are exacerbated by its limited range. Efforts to establish predator-free islands have been instrumental in reducing risks and providing safer habitat for the bird.
Recovery Efforts
Conservation programs include habitat restoration, conservation management, and the establishment of predator-free areas. By 2015, the Seychelles magpie population had increased to 283 individuals thanks to these initiatives. Conservation efforts continue to increase the population and ensure the long-term survival of this endangered bird.
