Cyornis unicolor
The Pale Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis unicolor) is a strikingly beautiful passerine belonging to the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae, known for its vibrant plumage. Males are an iridescent, deep azure blue across their upperparts, head, and throat, often sporting a darker mask around the eyes, with a somewhat paler, grayish-blue belly and flanks. Females, while also exhibiting a blue tinge, are typically duller, with a grayish-brown head and back, a rufous wash on the rump, and a paler,...
This species primarily inhabits dense, moist evergreen or mixed deciduous forests, typically found in hilly or montane regions at elevations ranging from 300 to 2,500 meters, occasionally descending lower in winter.
Its diet consists almost exclusively of insects, including flies, beetles, moths, and caterpillars, which it catches in flight or gleans from vegetation.
The Pale Blue Flycatcher is a diurnal and rather shy bird, often remaining hidden within the mid-story and undergrowth of dense forests. It typically forages by sallying out from a concealed perch to snatch flying insects in mid-air or glean them from foliage and tree trunks. Males are highly voc...
The Pale Blue Flycatcher boasts a wide distribution across the Indomalayan realm, stretching from the Himalayas eastward through Southeast Asia. Its breeding range encompasses the Himalayan foothills from northern India (Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh) and Nepal, through Bhutan, southern ...
Least Concern
- The Pale Blue Flycatcher is known for its incredibly vibrant, iridescent blue plumage in males, which can appear almost violet in certain lighting conditions. - Despite its striking coloration, it can be remarkably hard to spot due to its preference for dense forest undergrowth and its shy natu...