Study on contour feathers growth of White-rumped Shama during fledgling phase

Abstract

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus) has become a favorite pet among Indonesian bird keepers lately. A champion bird with beautiful chirps and colours would be valued high. There are very limited scientific information on its species, and this study results will enrich the biological data. The purpose of this study was to trace and record white-rumped shama contour feathers growth including feather types and changes of size during fledgling phase. There were 8 mixed sex chicks (a crossbreed of Medan x North Bengkulu) aged 30 days with similar body weight and size used in this study. Daily individual observation on parameters were conducted from day-1 of nurturing until chick’s individual first moulting day. Observation results showed that contour feathers on white-rumped shama chicks body which easily to observed were retrices and remiges. Then, based on anatomical feather during pledgling phase on chick’s part of forehead, nape, chest, back, wing and tail we recorded 3 types of feathers which were filoplumae, plumulae and plumae. Average of retrices length and width in tail were 69.62 mm and 11.10 mm per chick, and average of remiges primarie length and width in wing were 63.32 mm and 9.74 mm per chick, respectively. Researchers found that as similar as to other species of aves, the size of White-rumped Shama retrices is longer and wider than remiges.