# Kittacincla malabarica

The Malabar Whistling Thrush is a beautiful bird known for its lovely singing. It has shiny blue-black feathers and loves to live in forests, where it can sing its sweet songs.

- **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Forests
- **Also known as:** Malabar Thrush

![Kittacincla malabarica](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Copsychus_malabaricus_-_Khao_Yai.jpg&width=800)

Photo: JJ Harrison ( https://www.jjharrison.com.au/ ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Copsychus_malabaricus_-_Khao_Yai.jpg)

## Appearance

The Kittacincla malabarica is a medium-sized thrush with glossy blue-black plumage, often featuring a vibrant blue patch on its shoulders and forehead. Its bright yellow bill and pinkish-purple legs provide a striking contrast against its dark feathers, making it distinct among forest birds.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Aves
- **Order:** Passeriformes
- **Family:** Sylviidae
- **Genus:** Kittacincla

## Interesting facts

- Its scientific name, 'Kittacincla,' means 'whistling bird' – a perfect description of its famous song!
- These birds love cold water and are often seen bathing and splashing in mountain streams!
- This bird's stunning blue-black feathers almost vanish in the deep shadows of its forest home!
- You're much more likely to \*hear\* this shy bird's beautiful music than you are to actually \*see\* it!

## Special abilities

- **Melodic Whistle:** Kittacincla malabarica can produce a complex, flute-like song that helps them communicate and attract mates.
- **Sound Mimicry:** Kittacincla malabarica can imitate sounds of other birds and animals, which helps them confuse predators or defend territory.
- **Stream Foraging:** Kittacincla malabarica has strong legs and feet that help them hop and run across slippery rocks to find food near streams.
- **Secretive Nesting:** Kittacincla malabarica can build well-hidden nests in rock crevices or stumps, which helps protect their eggs from predators.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 23-28 cm
- **Wingspan:** 38-45 cm
- **Weight:** 0.08-0.12 kg
- **Lifespan:** 5-10 years
- **Clutch Size:** 2-4
- **Incubation:** 16-17 days
- **Migration Distance:** 0 km

## Diet & Feeding

This bird enjoys a varied diet of insects, worms, and juicy berries found near water.

- **Primary Foods:** Insects, Earthworms, Snails, Berries
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** Indian Earthworm (*Pheretima posthuma*) — A primary food source for foraging birds.
- **Eats:** Seven-spotted Ladybug (*Coccinella septempunctata*) — Various insects are hunted.
- **Eaten by:** [Indian Cobra](https://www.snappit.app/explore/indian-cobra) (*Naja naja*) — Predates on eggs and chicks in ground nests.
- **Eaten by:** Crested Goshawk (*Accipiter trivirgatus*) — Preys on adult birds.

## Traits

- [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.
- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species.
- [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability.

## Collections

- [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Enjoy watching birds from a distance and be quiet so you don't scare them away.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Kittacincla malabarica?

Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Kittacincla malabarica?

23-28 cm

### What is Kittacincla malabarica's wingspan?

38-45 cm

### How much does Kittacincla malabarica weigh?

0.08-0.12 kg

### How long does Kittacincla malabarica live?

5-10 years

### What does Kittacincla malabarica eat?

This bird enjoys a varied diet of insects, worms, and juicy berries found near water.

### Where is Kittacincla malabarica usually found?

Forests

### How does Kittacincla malabarica hunt?

Foraging

## More Birds

- [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*)
- [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*)
- [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*)
- [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*)

---

Source: [Kittacincla malabarica: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kittacincla-malabarica)