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88% of Monitored Oriental Magpie-Robin Nests Produced a Fledgling in Islamabad

Oriental Magpie-Robin at a natural tree cavity
Research · Reproduction & development

A two-year study in Islamabad, Pakistan, found high breeding success in Oriental magpie-robins (Copsychus saularis) nesting in a peri-urban university landscape. Of 32 active nests monitored during the 2021 and 2022 breeding seasons, 88% produced at least one fledgling.

The researchers worked at Quaid-i-Azam University near the north-western edge of the species’ range. Most nests—27 of 32—were in natural tree cavities, while five were built in electricity-meter cabinets. Tree cavities were generally deeper than the artificial sites, although the authors treated comparisons between cavity types descriptively because only five nests were found in electricity boxes.

The monitored nests contained 125 eggs. Of these, 108 hatched and 83 young fledged. In total, 28 of the 32 nests produced at least one fledgling: 24 of 27 tree-cavity nests and four of five nests in electricity boxes. A separate daily-survival analysis likewise indicated high nest survival and found no clear evidence of a difference between cavity types or between the two study years, although the small number of electricity-box nests limits that comparison.

The authors conclude that Oriental magpie-robins can breed successfully in both natural and artificial cavities in this peri-urban setting. They suggest that artificial structures can provide additional breeding opportunities where natural cavities are scarce, but should supplement rather than replace the protection of mature trees with suitable cavities.

Sources and image credit

  1. Khan, T., Ahmad, S., Mehmood, T., Khan, A., & Ali, S. (2026). Breeding ecology of the Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis) in a peri-urban landscape of Islamabad, Pakistan. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15594491.2026.2715284Primary research article first published online 24 August 2026. The study monitored 32 active Oriental magpie-robin nests at Quaid-i-Azam University during the 2021 and 2022 breeding seasons and examined nest-site use, breeding output and daily nest survival in natural tree cavities and electricity-meter cabinets.
  2. Breeding ecology of the Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis) in a peri-urban landscape of Islamabad, PakistanSecondary abstract record used to verify the reported sample sizes and breeding outcomes: 32 active nests; 27 in tree cavities and five in electricity-meter cabinets; 125 eggs, 108 hatchlings and 83 fledglings; 88% apparent nest success; daily survival rate 0.9955 and estimated 30-day survival 0.873. The authors reported no clear evidence of daily survival differences between cavity types or study years.

Image: Drsssuresh1961 — Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis) at a natural tree cavity, photographed 3 May 2023; Wikimedia Commons. Representative nesting image, not a bird or nest from the Islamabad study. · CC0 1.0 · Source

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