Asian fairy-bluebird
Asian fairy-bluebird | |
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Male in Marayoor, Kerala India
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Female in Mount Harriet National Park, Andaman and Nicobar Islands | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Irenidae |
Genus: | Irena |
Species: | I. puella
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Binomial name | |
Irena puella (Latham, 1790)
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Range includes I. tweeddalii | |
Synonyms | |
Coracias puella |
The Asian fairy-bluebird (Irena puella) is a medium-sized, arboreal
The adult Asian fairy bluebird is about 24 to 27 centimetres (9.4 to 10.6 in). The male has glossy, iridescent blue upperparts, and black underparts and flight feathers. The female and first year male are entirely dull blue-green.
The Asian fairy bluebird eats fruits, nectar and some insects. Its call is a liquid two note glue-it.
Description
The Asian fairy bluebird measures 24 to 27 cm (9.4 to 10.6 in) in length. The iris is crimson and eyelids pinkish; the bill, legs and claws are black, and mouth a flesh- colour. Marked
The upper plumage, the lesser wing coverts, and the lower tail coverts of the female are brownish blue, with the edges of the feathers brighter. The middle tail feathers and the outer webs of all the others, except the outer pair, like the upper plumage, and remainder of tail dark brown.
There are several subspecies, including I. cyanea malayensis from the Malay Peninsula, where the male differs in having the undertail coverts longer, nearly reaching to the tip of the tail.
Distribution and habitat
The Asian fairy bluebird is found in Sri Lanka and the western coast of India from
The subspecies known from Palawan is now thought to be a distinct species, the Palawan fairy-bluebird (I. tweeddalii).[3]
Behaviour and ecology
This bird is common in most of the tracts it frequents, going about in small parties or in pairs.
Breeding
It breeds from February to April, constructing a shallow cup-shaped nest, sometimes of moss and sometimes of small twigs, in a sapling or small tree. The eggs, which are generally two in number, are greenish white marked with brown, and measure about 1.14 cm by .77 cm.[4]
Feeding
It feeds principally on fruit and is generally found on the larger forest-trees.
Gallery
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Male and female Cotigao NP, Goa, India
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In Khao Yai National Park - Thailand
See also
References
- . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- S2CID 44028059.
- ^ "Species Updates – IOC World Bird List". Retrieved 2021-05-28.
- ^ Oates, E. W. (1889) Fauna of British India. Birds. Volume 1.
External links
- Asian fairy bluebird videos, photos & sounds on the Internet Bird Collection