Marshall's iora, also known as the white-tailed iora, is a songbird in the genus Aegithina found in parts of India and Sri Lanka.
Region
Indian Subcontinent
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland and foothill habitats across parts of India and Sri Lanka, favoring open woodland, dry and moist scrub, and forest edges. It frequents gardens, orchards, and riverine thickets where dense foliage provides foraging cover. The species is largely non-migratory, with local movements following food availability. It avoids deep closed-canopy forest but thrives in mosaic landscapes and secondary growth.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Marshall's iora, also called the white-tailed iora, was long treated as a form of the Common Iora but is now widely recognized as a distinct species. Males show striking black-and-yellow contrast with a notably white tail that helps separate it from lookalikes. It is an active foliage-gleaner that often joins mixed-species flocks. Its clear, whistled phrases and playful display flights make it easy to detect even when hidden in leaves.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between perches
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or in small family groups, and often joins mixed-species flocks while foraging. Builds a small, neat cup nest slung in a fork of a slender branch. Both sexes participate in nest building and care, and display brief chases during courtship.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song consists of clear, ringing whistles and sweet, two- to three-note phrases delivered from mid-canopy perches. Calls include soft chups and sharper, scolding notes during agitation.
Plumage
Fine, smooth plumage with strong contrast; males show glossy black upperparts with bright yellow underparts and a conspicuously white tail, females are more olive-green above and yellow below with cleaner white in the tail than Common Iora.
Diet
Primarily feeds on small insects such as caterpillars, beetles, bugs, and spiders, gleaned from leaves and twigs. It occasionally hawks for flying insects with quick sallies. Small berries or nectar may be taken opportunistically but are a minor component.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the mid to upper foliage of trees and shrubs along edges, scrub, and lightly wooded areas. It favors ecotones near fields, gardens, and riparian thickets where insect prey is abundant.
