Cyanoptila cumatilis
The Zappey's Flycatcher (Cyanoptila cumatilis) is a stunning member of the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae, known for its brilliant cerulean plumage. Males are particularly striking, showcasing deep cobalt-blue upperparts, a contrasting black face and lores, and a pristine white belly with a distinctive white patch on the lower flanks and undertail coverts. Measuring approximately 16 cm in length and weighing between 12-18 grams, its slender build is typical of an aerial insectivore...
Breeds primarily in montane deciduous or mixed forests, open woodlands, and forest edges, often near streams, at elevations up to 1,500 meters. Winters in tropical lowland forests and woodlands, including secondary growth and clearings, typically below 800 meters.
Mainly insectivorous, feeding on a variety of flying insects such as flies, beetles, moths, wasps, and caterpillars. It occasionally consumes other small invertebrates.
Zappey's Flycatcher is a diurnal species, spending its active hours foraging for insects. Its primary foraging strategy involves 'sallying,' where it perches conspicuously on a branch and makes short, agile flights to snatch flying insects from the air before returning to the same or a different ...
Zappey's Flycatcher has an extensive migratory range across East and Southeast Asia. Its primary breeding grounds span the Russian Far East (specifically Amurland and Ussuriland), northeastern China (including Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces), the Korean Peninsula, and parts of Japan ...
Least Concern
- Zappey's Flycatcher was recognized as a distinct species only in 2012, after being considered a subspecies of the Blue-and-white Flycatcher for over a century. - Its scientific name, `cumatilis`, means 'wave-like' or 'sea-blue', referring to the male's striking plumage. - The 'Zappey' in its co...