Tickell's Blue Flycatcher
Cyornis tickelliae
Attractive medium-sized flycatcher with blue upperparts and orange-and-white underparts, with the most orange on the chest and the throat. Male is more intensely-colored overall than the female. Smaller-billed profile, less extensive orange, and paler face distinguish this species from male Hill Blue Flycatcher. Extensive orange on the throat separates Tickell’s from Blue-throated Flycatcher. Favors open hill forests as well as forest edge, particularly in drier, scrubby areas, often close to water. Both sexes give a pleasant high-pitched tinkling song. Calls include dry rattles and metallic clinks.
Identification
Tickell's blue flycatcher is about 11–12 cm long. It sits upright and forages mainly in the overgrowth. The male's upper parts are bright blue, its throat and breast are red, and the rest of the underparts are white. The female is duller blue with a brighter blue brow, shoulder, rump, and tail. It hybridizes with the pale-chinned blue flycatcher (Cyornis poliogenys) in the Eastern Ghats of India and these hybrids have sometimes been treated as a subspecies vernayi. The juvenile is streaked and has a spotted mantle, scaly brown upperparts, head and breast, with just the wings and tail being blue.<p>They have sometimes been known to feed even after dusk. Apart from flying insects they may occasionally pick up crawling insects.<p>The species shows regional variations in plumage and size and several of these populations have been designated with subspecies names. The nominate form is found in India, Nepal and Myanmar. The Sri Lankan population is separated as jerdoni (or nesea/mesaea said to be darker)<p>In the past this species has been considered as a subspecies of the blue-throated blue flycatcher (Cyornis rubeculoides) which resembles this but has a blue throat.
Taxonomy
Genus: Cyornis; Family: Muscicapidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Cyornis tickelliae
- Authority
- Blyth, 1843
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Cyornis
Range and habitat
Tickell's blue flycatcher breeds in dry forest, scrub, bamboo and gardens.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Black-headed Duck
Heteronetta atricapilla
An uncommon and easily overlooked small duck of lakes and wetlands, usually with surrounding reeds. Mainly seen singly or in pairs, sometimes in small groups, and at times sleeping with Lake Ducks. Note the long and low profile in the water and the long gray bill with a pink band at the base on males. Males have a black head, but females are notably drab brownish overall and are best identified by size and shape, and association with a male. Lays its eggs in nests of other birds, such as coots, ducks, and even herons. Ducklings fend for themselves.
Red-chested Cuckoo
Cuculus solitarius
A mostly grayish cuckoo with banding below, including a broad rusty band across the upper breast. The immature has barred underparts and a charcoal back, throat, and breast. It can be very secretive, and when it flies fast on pointed wings, it strongly resembles a small goshawk. Its brood-parasite hosts include wagtails, robin-chats, and thrushes. Resident and (in the southern parts of its range) migrant. Its presence is most often evidenced by its incessant and loud three-note “Pete-my-wife” song.
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