“Fearless” Oriental Magpie Robin

on 14th September 2011

“We love watching birds in the garden as we get extended contact with the same bird and get to know them individually. Each bird of the same species has subtle, and occasionally overt, personality traits that enable us to differentiate them. We have many adult Oriental Magpie Robins (Copsychus saularis musicus) that visit our garden.

“This particular female has made her presence felt these past 4-5 weeks. As long as I do not have my VTO (very threatening object a.k.a. the camera and long lens) present she will come to within 2-3 meters of us and give us a ‘screech’; often a few times. We believe she thinks the garden is hers and we are the interlopes. She will also flash her tail at me many times; one episode of 9 flashes last week.

“We have been thinking of a name for her and my wife says ‘Fearless Magpie’. I was thinking of less complimentary names like ‘recalcitrant’ but my wife’s choice is better and has stuck. We look forward to many more daily episodes of interaction and hope that ‘Fearless’ will learn to accept us in her garden.

“Some images of the lady and a YouTube video I managed to get handheld here:”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Canning Garden Home, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
29th July 2011

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

2 Responses

  1. I believe that screech is the warning call to both the intruder and as well to her fledgling nearby. I think one can hear the distinct unmistakeable chirping sound begging for feed in the back ground.

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