Birdwatching in Thailand: The Dayal Thrush (Copsychus saularis)

A common bird in Thailand and throughout Asia is the Dayal Thrush (Copsychus saularis). It is a small songbird that used to be counted among the thrushes (Turdidae), but is now counted among the old world flycatchers (Muscicapidae).

The bird is even the national symbol of Bangladesh and is also often kept in aviaries.

The male and female of the dayal thrush are different in appearance. The males are black with a white belly, undertail and wing stripe, while the females have a gray head and chest. The male resembles a small magpie, which is why the bird is called Magpie robin in English. The females are somewhat smaller.

In aviaries, these birds are social towards other bird species, but they can become aggressive towards both other bird species and conspecifics during the breeding season.

The behavior of the bird resembles that of a blackbird. In Thailand you can hear the bird in the morning from an electricity cable or pole along the road. You may have seen the Dayal Thrush hopping around your lawn with its tail cocked as it searches for invertebrates. The Daya Thrush, like a blackbird, also sits on the roofs in the late afternoon and sings at the top of its voice to make its presence clear.

The Dayal thrush has a large distribution area that extends from Pakistan to the Philippines. Within this area, 13 subspecies are distinguished. The bird is mainly found in open landscapes, agricultural areas, parks and gardens.