Dull-blue flycatcher
This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2017) |
Dull-blue flycatcher | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Muscicapidae |
Genus: | Eumyias |
Species: | E. sordidus
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Binomial name | |
Eumyias sordidus (Walden, 1870)
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Synonyms | |
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The dull-blue flycatcher (Eumyias sordidus) is a small passerine bird in the flycatcher family, Muscicapidae. It was previously included in the genus Muscicapa.[2]
This species is an endemic resident breeder in the hills of central Sri Lanka.
The dull-blue flycatcher breeds in deciduous mountain forest, invariably above 600 m (2,000 ft), although it is not common below 900 m (3,000 ft). The main breeding season is in March and April, but a second brood is often reared later in the year.
The cup-shaped nest is a lined compact mass of moss. The site is usually a well-shaded rock ledge. The normal clutch is two or three brown-spotted pink eggs are laid.
This species is 15 cm (5.9 in) long. It is similar in shape to the spotted flycatcher and has a loud melodic song.. Adults are ashy blue, with a whitish belly. There is a black patch between the broad black bill and the eye, bordered with brighter blue above and below. Sexes are similar, but females are slightly duller.
Juvenile dull-blue flycatchers are brown, heavily spotted on the head, back, wing-coverts and breast with pale buff; their flight feathers are broadly edged with blue-grey.
This is relatively easy bird to see, despite its forest habitat. It feeds mainly on flying insects, beetles, caterpillars and other insects, but also eats berries.
In Culture
[edit]This bird appears in 50 Sri Lankan rupee bank note (2010 series).[3]
References
[edit]- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Eumyias sordidus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22709433A94209458. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22709433A94209458.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ Howard, R.; Moore, A. (1991). A complete checklist of the birds of the world (2 ed.). Academic Press Ltd.
- ^ "P-NEW".
- Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6