Philippine Magpie-Robin Copsychus mindanensis Scientific name definitions

19 cm; 29–36·7 g. Male has entire head to breast and upperparts glossy blue-black, upperwing black with prominent white band along wing-coverts extending onto edges of tertials and inner secondaries; tail all black; underparts below breast white, flanks with light buffish tinge; iris dark brown to black; bill black; legs black. Female has plumage pattern like male’s but with black of head and body replaced by medium to dark grey. Juvenile resembles female, but has upperparts more brownish and with dark mottling, and face and fore parts of underside with dark spotting.

Philippines.

Song a series of sweet-sounding mellow phrases consisting of shorter notes and delivered at faster pace compared to song of C. saularis, and with phrases and pauses irregular and lacking latter’s well-separated repeated strophes. Calls quite varied, including a drawn-out plaintive hissing, in alarm a harsh “chr-r” or similar, also some mimicry.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Generally uncommon; common at Cayapa, on Luzon, but uncommon elsewhere in Sierra Madre; fairly common in cultivated lowlands on Mindoro. Global population, although not quantified, is believed to be stable; no declines in this species’ numbers or threats to its survival have been identified.