Cyornis tickelliae
The Tickell's Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis tickelliae) is a jewel-toned passerine bird belonging to the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae. Males are strikingly adorned with brilliant blue upperparts that are richest on the head and fade to a lighter blue on the rump, complemented by a vibrant orange throat and breast that gradually transitions to a clean white belly. Females, while still attractive, display a more subdued blue-grey on their upperparts and a paler orange wash on the breast...
Found primarily in deciduous and evergreen forests, forest edges, bamboo thickets, plantations, and well-wooded gardens, typically in lowlands and foothills up to 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) in elevation.
Mainly insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of small to medium-sized insects such as flies, beetles, moths, caterpillars, and ants, supplemented occasionally by small berries.
Tickell's Blue Flycatcher is a diurnal and rather solitary bird, usually seen singly or in pairs, rarely joining mixed-species foraging flocks. It typically perches upright on a prominent branch, scanning its surroundings for prey. Its primary foraging strategy involves 'sallying' - making swift,...
The Tickell's Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis tickelliae, sensu stricto) is a widespread resident across the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka. Its primary breeding and year-round range extends throughout India, covering peninsular regions, the northern plains, and parts of the northeastern states. It i...
Least Concern
- The species is named after Samuel Richard Tickell, a British army officer and ornithologist who worked extensively in India during the 19th century. - Despite its vibrant coloration, it can be surprisingly elusive, often found quietly foraging in dense undergrowth before darting out for prey. -...