An in-form male white-rumped shama will instinctively adopt a pose when another male of its kind first appears in sight. This is part of its body language signaling to the rival of its readiness for battle. Posing requires the muscles of its entire body to be tightened. During an impressive pose, the neck is stretched, the head is held high with the beak pointing slightly upwards, the legs are straightened to hold up the pose and the wings tightly folded over its body with the wing tips meeting just beneath the vent to fully expose the raised white rump. The pose is part of the display and may also be observed to occur momentarily in between the movements during the display.