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Saxicola caprata
The pied bush chat (Saxicola caprata) is a small passerine bird found ranging from West Asia and Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. About sixteen subspecies are recognized through its wide range with many island forms. It is a familiar bird of countryside and open scrub or grassland where it is found perched at the top of short thorn trees or other shrubs, looking out for insect prey. They pick up insects mainly from the ground, and were, like other chats, placed in the thrush family Turdidae, but are now considered as Old World flycatchers. They nest in cavities in stone walls or in holes in an embankment, lining the nest with grass and animal hair. The males are black with white shoulder and vent patches whose extent varies among populations. Females are predominantly brownish while juveniles are speckled. Subspecies and Distribution (Philippines) S. c. caprata (Linnaeus, 1766) – Luzon and Mindoro, in N Philippines. S. c. randi Parkes, 1960 – C Philippines (Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor). S. c. anderseni Salomonsen, 1953 – Leyte and Mindanao, in E & S Reference : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied_bus...
Grasslands, Rice Fields
Still not sure if this is a White-vented Shama, since it is Endemic to Palawan Island (Western Part of the Philippines) and I spotted this bird in Cagayan de oro City (Northern Mindanao). Other possibility of this Spotting is that it is an introduce species by someone who bought this as a pet and intentionally or accidentally escaped from its cage. If this is really a White-vented Shama, I believe this is the first spotting here in Mindanao (based on my research). Edit : This is a Pied Bushchat. Thanks to Jellis (A fellow Project Noah spotter) for the huge help in identifying this Bird. The Shama and this Pied Bushchat somehow looks alike, but differs by the length of the their tails.(in my opinion) The WVS has a longer tail.
Spotted on Mar 17, 2017
Submitted on Mar 17, 2017
10 Comments
@Jellis
Whoah! Thanks for the great help. You're so dedicated. Are you a Project Noah Ranger? If not yet, I'll definitely Nominate you.
The similarities of the Shama and the Pied Bushchat are really close, I guess that they differ in the length of the tails.
Okay from the FB site it has been confirmed as a Pied Bush chat
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied_bus...
I talked to someone on the FB site and they think it might be an escapee
@Jellis
I see.
But I think this a white-vented shama isn't a migratory bird . Maybe this is just lost or being introduced.
This is only a comment not that it may apply to your area. I sometimes ignore the word Endemic. Reasons being because where I'm from. Examples: In California we have gotten species not endemic here. Some species from the eastern United States have shown up in the Western side. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Magnolia Warbler, Baltimore Oriole etc. Sightings of birds like the Ross's Gull, Emperor Goose, Tufted Duck. Escaped, released and introduced birds like Flamingos, Northern Cardinals, Red-whiskered Bulbuls and many others. If this is a White-vented Shama there maybe a reason why it is there.
@Jellis Thanks. I'll check this site.
Nah. I thought of a crow just because of its color. :D . but its far from a crow.
maybe this site may help. https://m.facebook.com/BirdingMindanao/
But you think this might be a crow? Crows in your area don't look like this.
@Jellis
I thought about that, but White-vented Shamas are Endemic to Palawan, and this one is spotted Mindanao (Southernmost Major Island of the Philippines) .
What about the White-vented Shama