Least Concern (LC)

About 19–21 cm in length; a small, slender songbird with a long, often cocked tail. Males are black-and-white, while females are generally greyish-brown and white.

Resident across most of its Indian range; some populations show local or partial seasonal movements.

No regular long-distance migration in India; some populations may make local movements.

Generally March–July/August in India, with timing varying by region; studies in Uttarakhand recorded breeding from March to August.

Tree cavities, holes in walls, branches and other sheltered cavities; nests are also recorded in man-made structures.

Gardens, open woodland, groves, cultivated areas, forest edges and areas around human habitation

Mainly insects and other invertebrates, including beetles, ants, caterpillars and other small prey; occasionally takes small reptiles and other animal matter.