Pale Blue Flycatcher
Cyornis unicolor
A rather large flycatcher, usually found sitting still on a branch in the middle levels of dense forests. Male is pale blue overall with a pale gray belly. Immature Verditer Flycatcher can be similar, but is a greener shade of blue, has a pale eyering, and shows pale barring on the vent. Female Pale Blue Flycatcher is gray-brown with a white throat and belly and a slight ruddy tint to the tail; her general lack of warm coloration and size help distinguish her from other female flycatchers.
Identification
The pale blue flycatcher (Cyornis unicolor) is a bird in the family Muscicapidae. The species was first described by Edward Blyth in 1843. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is superficially similar in appearance to the verditer flycatcher, but is paler blue, with greyish underparts from throat to vent, and a discontinuous black eye-patch. Both birds can often be found in the same locale.
Taxonomy
Genus: Cyornis; Family: Muscicapidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Cyornis unicolor
- Authority
- Blyth, 1843
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Cyornis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Black-capped Kingfisher
Halcyon pileata
An unmistakable mid-sized kingfisher with a jet black head, white collar, and blood-red bill. It has purple-blue upperparts and pale orange-rufous underparts. Throat is white, blue tail has black underside, and in flight, white flashes on the underwings are conspicuous. Juvenile is duller blue with a small rufous-buff spot in front of the eye, a buffy collar, and dusky scaling on the breast. Calls similar to White-throated Kingfisher, but Black-capped’s are slightly higher-pitched. Frequents mangrove swamps and coastal wetlands, but often wanders up into hill streams.
Gray-green Scrubwren
Aethomyias arfakianus
A small bird of lower montane forest interior. Whitish belly, pale gray head and greenish wing. Pale grayish wash on the chest with faint streaking, offsetting the whitish throat. Actively searches leaves and branches for insects in small groups. Co-occurs at elevations with other scrubwrens including Vogelkop, Pale-billed and Perplexing, but Gray-green has olive rather than warm brown upperparts. Song, a scratchy jumble of notes followed by an up and down “chi-doo! chi-doo! chi-doo!”. Calls, various raspy, nasal notes and chattering.
Socotra Buzzard
Buteo socotraensis
A typical medium-sized brown-and-white buzzard that was only recognized as distinct in 2010. The underparts are whitish buff with heavily streaked underparts (lighter on the throat). Underwings display significant contrast, with pale primaries and secondaries standing out against black 'wrists' and rusty 'wingpits'. Juveniles are buffier and less heavily streaked. Uncommon resident endemic to Socotra, mostly between 150–800m, preferring ravines and cliffs; other buzzards are vagrants. Calls like other buzzards.
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