Cyornis pallidipes
The White-bellied Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis pallidipes) is a stunning member of the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae, endemic to the biodiverse Western Ghats of India. Measuring approximately 13-14 cm in length, the male boasts brilliant cobalt-blue upperparts, a striking azure-blue supercilium extending behind the eye, and contrasting blackish lores. Its most distinctive feature is its pristine white underparts from the lower breast to the vent, giving it its common name. Females are...
This flycatcher primarily inhabits the understory and mid-story of dense evergreen and moist deciduous forests, favoring riparian zones and ravines in hill ranges. It is typically found at elevations ranging from lowlands up to about 1,500 meters.
Its diet consists almost exclusively of small insects, including flies, beetles, and caterpillars, which it catches both by aerial sallying and gleaning from vegetation.
The White-bellied Blue Flycatcher is a diurnal and restless bird, typically observed alone or in pairs, actively foraging. It employs a 'sally-and-snatch' technique, launching from a perch to catch insects in mid-air, but also gleans prey from foliage. While territorial during the breeding season...
The White-bellied Blue Flycatcher's distribution is largely restricted to the Western Ghats mountain range and associated hill systems in peninsular India. Its primary breeding range extends from southern Maharashtra through Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and into the high hills of western Tamil Nadu. I...
Least Concern
- The White-bellied Blue Flycatcher is endemic to the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its exceptional biodiversity. - Despite its vibrant blue plumage, it can be surprisingly elusive, often flitting through dense undergrowth. - Its clean white belly provides a stark and...