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Magpie-robin (doel) black-and-white bulbul-sized,
long-tailed bird, Copsychus saularis, of the family Muscicapidae,
order Passeriformes. The bird has been designated as the national bird
of Bangladesh. The upper part of the male is glossy blue-black, its wings
are blackish brown with a prominent long white patch; throat and breast
are blue-black; the rest of its underparts are white; and the tail is
black with white outer rectrices. Black portions are replaced by brown
and slaty grey in the female. They are found solitary or in pairs; feed
largely on grounds, and are usually not afraid of human habitations.
Magpic-robin
The bird becomes quiet during the non-breeding season,
but during the breeding season the male indulges in awkward puffing out
of chest, pointing bill stiffly skyward, and strutting and posturing in
front of rivals. The male vigorously defends his territory during the
breeding season. It sings with its wings partly drooping and tail depressed.
Its song is a spirited, clear, rather thin and varied whistling, and is
divided in short phrases repeated over and over again, occasionally interlarded
with mimicry of calls of other birds. The bird feeds on a variety of insects,
snails, earthworms, centipedes, small lizards, and some vegetable matter.
It breeds during February-July. The peak breeding season is in April and
May. [Md Nazrul Haque]
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