White-crowned Shama
Copsychus stricklandii
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyMuscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers, Robins, and Chats)
- GenusCopsychus (Magpie-Robins and Shamas)
- SpeciesCopsychus stricklandii (White-crowned Shama)
About the White-crowned Shama
The white-crowned shama (Copsychus stricklandii) is a medium sized passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Southeast Asian island of Borneo. The Maratua shama was formerly treated as a subspecies.
It is closely related to the white-rumped shama (Copsychus malabaricus), and has in the past been sometimes considered a subspecies of that species. The Maratua shama was formerly treated as a subspecies but is now treated as a separate species based on the differences in morphology and mitochondrial DNA sequences. The white-crowned shama is now monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.
The specific name was bestowed in honour of Hugh Edwin Strickland The white-crowned shama is about 21–28 cm (8.3–11.0 in) in length (including a 7 cm (2.8 in) tail in adult males) and 31–42 g (1.1–1.5 oz) in weight. Mainly blue-black upperparts contrast with orange-rufous underparts. It has a white rump and black throat. It is largely similar in appearance to the white-rumped shama subspecies C. m. suavis, which replaces it in southern and western Borneo, and hybridises with it where the ranges meet. It differs in having a white, rather... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Sepilok
Oriental Magpie-Robin
Copsychus saularis
Verditer Flycatcher
Eumyias thalassinus
Brown-streaked Flycatcher
Muscicapa williamsoni
Asian Brown Flycatcher
Muscicapa latirostris
Blue-and-white Flycatcher
Cyanoptila cyanomelana
Gray-streaked Flycatcher
Muscicapa griseisticta
White-crowned Forktail
Enicurus leschenaulti
Dark-sided Flycatcher
Muscicapa sibirica
Malaysian Blue-Flycatcher
Cyornis turcosus
Narcissus Flycatcher
Ficedula narcissina
Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher
Rhinomyias umbratilis
Pale Blue-Flycatcher
Cyornis unicolor
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danum Valley Conservation Area | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 2 | Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 3 | Sepilok | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 4 | Kinabalu Park | 🇲🇾 Malaysia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a White-crowned Shama in Sepilok?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a White-crowned Shama sighting in Sepilok, based on 58 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see White-crowned Shama in Sepilok?
September has the highest sighting rate for White-crowned Shama in Sepilok in our monthly data.