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White-rumped Shama

Copsychus malabaricus · Old World Flycatchers, Robins, and Chats

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus)
(c) Vijay Anand Ismavel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA) · CC BY-NC-SA · via iNaturalist

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus) is in the Old World Flycatchers, Robins, and Chats family (Muscicapidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,393 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

When to photograph White-rumped Shama: observations by month (U.S.)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

About White-rumped Shama

The white-rumped shama (Copsychus malabaricus) is a small passerine bird of the family Muscicapidae. Native to densely vegetated habitats in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, its popularity as a cage-bird and songster has led to it being introduced elsewhere.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

White-rumped Shama by state

StateObservationsPeak monthMain season
Hawaii3,389MayApr–Mar

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Photography tips

  • Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
  • Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
  • Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
  • Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph White-rumped Shama?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to March.
Where is White-rumped Shama most often seen?
The most observations come from Hawaii.