Oriental Magpie-Robin

One Oriental Magpie-Robin chick must surely be born to survive.

In  close proximity with the nest of a brood of four Black-thighed Falconets and a busy pair of parents always on the hunt, this Oriental Magpie-Robin that was hatched much later but had assumed fledgling status in only about 15 days (compared to more than 30 days of a black-thighed falconet fledgling), fell right to its tree base, and inevitably would be ready meal if the Falconet parents were around.

Unfortunately another chick was found dead already, at the base of a close-by tree, presumably fallen earlier from the nest, undiscovered by its parents.

With a little human help, the surviving chick was placed in the fork of an adjacent tree with the hope that its searching parents would quickly notice its presence.

Perhaps a premature fledgling, it failed to find its balance as it fell again.

Fortunately the parents who were noisily looking for their chicks in the vicinity, arrived promptly, and managed cleverly to coax it, struggling through the grass, into the undergrowth and safety.

Banded Woodpecker vs Oriental Magpie-Robin

 Maternal instincts always reign supreme in all creatures big or small.

It must have looked like a perfect foraging spot for this pair of Banded Woodpeckers who happily flew in on a blazingly bright late morning.

The huge trunk of a tree was rotten, highly probably fertile ground for grubs, highly attractive to these grub-loving woodpeckers.

Until they were rudely shocked to discover that this tree had been claimed by Oriental Magpie-Robins who came across as having built a home there already. 

One of the intruders looked like it well understood the situation and decided to flee.

But not the other.  

First assault!

Second assault

Third assault

Fourth assault - a deceptive move?

Not worth hanging on after all, so time to depart, finally.

Oriental Magpie-Robin

'Chickhood' is over as the young birds are seen following their parents for easy grub. 

A young Oriental Magpie-Robin still calling on its parent for feeds, but was completely ignored as it was eventually left alone.

Too common a-robin

If the Oriental Magpie-Robin dons brighter colours perhaps it'll be more sought after?  It's presently sought after only because of its melodious songs and calls - certainly delightful as well as amusing to listen to when two are engaged in avian exchange - listening intently, I dare say one can almost discern whether the exchange figures as warning, persuading or even reprimanding!

Displaying exquisite tail-feather movements as it spotted an insect catch (this I deduced only after observing what it did following its display).

It was so preoccupied that it was unaware that I was trailing behind.

A cricket catch which it quickly discarded probably due to the extremely long antennae of the this Asian Bush Cricket.

What’s left in the bill was just part of a leg that it also promptly tossed off.

Magpie Robin, ehh

 So, it's only the Oriental Magpie Robin?  

I dare say 'Not so!'

It's not guaranteed, at least nowadays, when it looks like this bird population is also on the decline, that one would always easily chance upon a young handsome male like this one.

The female, by comparison duller with greyish brown overall, that was heard calling, a warning that I was approaching (?), before she appeared.

And did we say that it was a rather simple looking one?  

Perhaps, it's because its lovely bloom of under-tail coverts were not fully appreciated!