They are distinctive black and white birds with a long tail that is held upright as they forage on the ground or perch conspicuously.

Occurring across most of the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia, they are common birds in urban gardens as well as forests.

The Sri Lankan race ceylonensis (formerly included with the peninsular Indian populations south of the Kaveri River)[2] and southern nominate individuals have the females nearly identical to the males in shade.

[4] A number of other races have been named across the range, including prosthopellus (Hong Kong), nesiotes, zacnecus, nesiarchus, masculus, pagiensis, javensis, problematicus, amoenus, adamsi, pluto, deuteronymus and mindanensis.

Males sing loudly from the top of trees or other high perches during the breeding season.

p. 116) that Linnaeus,[9] thinking it had some connection with a sun-dial, called it solaris, by lapsus pennae, saularis.

This was, however, identified by Edward Blyth as an incorrect interpretation and that it was a Latinization of the Hindi word saulary which means a "hundred songs".

A male bird was sent with this Hindi name from Madras by surgeon Edward Bulkley to James Petiver, who first described the species (Ray, Synops.

[3] The Oriental magpie-robin is found in open woodland and cultivated areas often close to human habitations.

Magpie-robins breed mainly from March to July in India and January to June in south-east Asia.

The display of the male involves puffing up the feathers, raising the bill, fanning the tail and strutting.

Four or five eggs are laid at intervals of 24 hours and these are oval and usually pale blue green with brownish speckles that match the color of hay.

[30] Poaching for the pet bird trade and habitat changes have also affected them and they are locally protected by law.

[35] Oriental magpie-robins were widely kept as cage birds for their singing abilities and for fighting in India in the past.

Aside from being recognized as the national bird of the country, in Bangladesh, the oriental magpie-robin is common and known as the doyel or doel (দোয়েল).

[37] Professor Kazi Zakir Hossain of Dhaka University proposed to consider the magpie robin as the national bird of Bangladesh.