Andaman Shama
Copsychus albiventris
The Andaman Shama (Copsychus albiventris) is a rare chats, old world flycatchers, and alli found only in India. The Andaman shama is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae.
About the Andaman Shama
The Andaman shama is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Andaman Islands. It is considered a restricted-range species because it occurs only within this island group. It was previously considered a subspecies of the white-rumped shama. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Although precise global population estimates are not available, the species is reported to be common within its limited range. The Andaman shama inhabits forested and semi-open habitats across several islands in the Andaman archipelago and is considered non-migratory.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Andaman shama is a small bird with a body shape similar to that of a thrush. Males have tails measuring approximately 117–122 mm, while females have slightly shorter tails measuring about 98–106 mm. Males and females are generally similar in appearance, although females typically show slightly duller coloration around the chin and throat. The species has white underparts with slightly reddish flanks. The upperparts range from pale orange to warm brown. The central tail feathers are black and extend slightly beyond the white outer tail feathers.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in December. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Andaman Shama?
- The Andaman shama is a small bird with a body shape similar to that of a thrush. Full identification notes are on this page.
- Where can you see an Andaman Shama?
- The Andaman Shama is endemic to India, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to an Andaman Shama?
- The Andaman Shama is most easily confused with the Philippine Magpie-Robin, the White-browed Shama and the White-vented Shama.
- Is the Andaman Shama endangered?
- The Andaman Shama is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Andaman Shama for real
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