- Where to see one
- 4 U.S. zoos in our directory hold white-rumped shama, confirmed against each zoo's own animal list.
Conservation status
Not Evaluated
This species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, so it sits outside the threat scale entirely.
About the white-rumped shama
The white-rumped shama is a small songbird of dense vegetation in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Males are glossy black with a chestnut belly and white feathers on the rump and outer tail, while females are greyer brown. It is shy, somewhat crepuscular and very territorial, and feeds on insects in the wild. Its rich, melodious song, which often mimics other birds, has made it a popular cage bird, and escaped birds have become established in places such as Hawaii. Pairs nest in tree hollows, where the female builds the nest and the male stands guard.
White-rumped Shama facts
- A pet shama recorded in 1889 gave the earliest known recording of bird song.
- Birds were introduced to Kauai in 1931, and escaped cage birds have established themselves elsewhere.
- In Taiwan it is considered invasive, eating native insects and acting aggressively toward native birds.
- Its song has a variety of phrases, and it often mimics other birds.
Where to see white-rumped shama in the U.S.
4 zoos across 4 states
Find the closest one
Rank the 4 zoos holding white-rumped shama by how far they are from you. Your location is used in your browser to sort this list and is never sent to us.
Colorado· 1
Illinois· 1
New York· 1
Oklahoma· 1
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Built from each zoo's own published animal list.
