Cyornis poliogenys
The Pale-chinned Flycatcher (Cyornis poliogenys) is a captivating member of the Old World flycatcher family (Muscicapidae), renowned for its subtle yet distinctive plumage. Males typically exhibit vibrant blue upperparts, a contrasting pale whitish chin and throat, and a white belly often with greyish flanks, measuring approximately 13-14 cm (5.1-5.5 inches) in length and weighing around 10-15 grams. This pale chin is a key field mark differentiating it from several similar blue flycatchers w...
This species primarily inhabits subtropical and tropical moist montane forests, broadleaf evergreen forests, and dense woodlands, often favoring areas near streams and ravines, typically at elevations between 300 to 2,500 meters.
The diet of the Pale-chinned Flycatcher consists almost exclusively of small invertebrates, predominantly insects such as flies, beetles, ants, and small caterpillars, caught through aerial sallies and gleaning.
Pale-chinned Flycatchers are typically diurnal and relatively shy, often observed foraging solitarily or in pairs within the lower to mid-canopy strata. Their primary foraging strategy involves sallying, where they launch short, swift flights from an exposed perch to snatch flying insects in mid-...
The Pale-chinned Flycatcher has a wide distribution across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Its breeding range extends from the Himalayan foothills of northern India (Uttarakhand eastwards), Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, through northeast India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland) to ...
Least Concern
- The Pale-chinned Flycatcher was formerly considered conspecific with the Grey-striped Flycatcher (*Cyornis griseigularis*) and several other blue flycatcher species, highlighting complex taxonomic challenges in the genus *Cyornis*. - Despite its name, the paleness of the chin can vary significa...