Celestial monarch

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Celestial monarch
Male seen in Bislig, Surigao del Sur. Photo by Adri Constantino of Birding Philippines.
Female lithograph by Smit. Yellow eye-ring and crest not drawn in.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Monarchidae
Genus: Hypothymis
Species:
H. coelestis
Binomial name
Hypothymis coelestis
Tweeddale, 1877
Subspecies

See text

The celestial monarch (Hypothymis coelestis) is a species of

birdwatchers in the Philippines and in the world.[2]

Description and taxonomy

Ebird describes the celestial monarch as "A fairly small, rather long-tailed bird of lowland forest. Has turquoise wings and tail, an indigo chest and neck, a pale blue crown and crest, and a white belly. The male is brighter blue and has a longer crest than the female. Similar to Black-naped monarch but has a crest. Also similar to, Short-crested monarch, but is paler blue with a longer crest. Song is a short series of clear piping notes, ”pii-pii-pii.”[3] These birds exhibit sexual dimorphism in which the males have much longer crests and a more intense coloration overall while the females having shorter crests, less intense blue colors and a generally smaller size.[4] Males are known to raise their crests when agitated, usually seen in response hearing other males or sensing a threat.[5]

The diet of the celestial monarch consists of insects.

An alternate name for the celestial monarch is the celestial blue monarch.[6]

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized:[7]

Habitat and conservation status

Its natural

riverine specialist especially in areas with a distinct dry season. It is often seen in the canopy
.

IUCN has assessed this bird as vulnerable with estimates the population to be just 1,000 to 2,499 mature individuals remaining with the population continuing to decrease due to habitat loss.

Lowland forests is the most threatened type of forest in the country. This is due to them being deforested for high-value lumber and destroyed through

West Visayas
sub-species rabori is now feared extinct. Widespread and continuing reduction of its lowland habitat leaves its population severely fragmented and its status is vulnerable according to the Red Data Book of Threatened Birds of Asia.The Philippine Red List goes further lists the celestial monarch as critically endangered.

It has been recently recorded in the protected areas in the

land conversion. As of 2021
there are no species specific conservation plans.

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22707078A131656009.en
    . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ISBN 978-1-909612-49-5
    .
  3. ^ "Celestial Monarch". Ebird. Archived from the original on 2021-09-06.
  4. ^ Allen, Desmond (2020). Birds of the Philippines. Barcelona: Lynx and Birdlife Internation Fieldguides. pp. 253–254.
  5. ^ Allen, Desmond. "Discussion on Celestial Monarchs Crest". Birdwatch Philippines Community.
  6. ^ "Hypothymis coelestis - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-01-07.
  7. doi:10.14344/ioc.ml.6.3
    .
  8. doi:10.1017/s0959270900002501
    .
  • del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J. (2006) Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 11: Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
  • Burnie, D. (2001) Animal. Dorling Kindersley, London.
  • Mittermeier, R.A., Gil, P.R., Hoffmann, M., Pilgrim, J., Brooks, T., Mittermeier, C.G., Lamoreux, J. and Da Fonseca, G.A.B. (2004) Hotspots Revisited. CEMEX, Mexico City.
  • Allen (2020), Birds of the Philippines p. 254

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Celestial_monarch&oldid=1216632597"