“For many years, at great cost, I traveled through many countries, saw the high mountains, the oceans. The only things I did not see were the sparkling dewdrops in the grass just outside my door.”
-Rabindtanath Tagore
The oriental magpie-robin is a fairly common backyard bird throughout India and neighbouring countries. It is also the national bird of Bangladesh. The male dressed in his black cloak with white waist band is more vocal and struts about like a bandmaster whilst the female prefers grey over black and is more ladylike.
It is the first bird to make its appearance at the bird bath before the break of dawn. It signals its arrival from its favourite perch with a cheerful note - "Wheeeee!", which is one of the most beautiful sounds to wake up to. This short note will change into a long story telling session as the sunlight begins to pour in, at times even imitating the otherwise quiet spotted fantail that shares the same perch. After a silent afternoon it begins to sing again as the sun sets and is the last one to settle down for the night.
Oriental magpie-robin
(Copsychus saularis)
Sony A77II
Tamron 150-600
f/5.6, 1/250s, ISO1600, 360mm (M)
f/6.3, 1/250s, ISO1000, 400mm (F)
Home,Kahun Road, Pune (India)
April 2020