Nilgiri Flycatcher

Nilgiri Flycatcher
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Muscicapidae
Genus:	Eumyias
Species:	E. albicaudatus
Binomial name
Eumyias albicaudatus (Jerdon, 1840)[1]
Synonyms
Muscicapa albicaudata Stoparola albicaudata

The Nilgiri Flycatcher (Eumyias albicaudatus) is an Old World flycatcher with a very restricted range in the hills of southern India. It has a colour similar to that of the Verditer Flycatcher (due to which it was earlier called the Nilgiri Verditer Flycatcher) which is a winter visitor to the Nilgiris but lacks the dark lores of that species. There are two small white patches at the base of the tail. It is found mainly in the higher altitude of the shola forests.It has also been classified as a near-threatened species in the IUCN Red list.

Identification

This small and somewhat long tailed flycatcher is about 13 centimetres (5.1 in) dark steely blue long bird with a violet-blue forehead with the lores being slightly darker.The male Nilgiri Flycatcher,develops a dark metallic blue colour as it reaches adulthood. It is much darker than the Verditer Flycatcher and does not have as strong a contrast in the pale face and black lores. The female is duller with dark brown on the upperparts and dark grey below.^[2] The two central tail feathers are blue and the lateral feathers are dark brown and edged with indigo with white at the extreme base. This white patch is not easily visible when the bird is sitting. The wing feathers are dark brown with a narrow outer fringe of blue. The juvenile is dark brown with creamy spots and a scaly appearance on the throat and breast. The bill and legs are black and the iris is dark brown.^[3][4]

Distribution

This species is found in the higher hills of the Nilgiris, Palnis, Anamalai ranges, the Brahmagiris, Bababudan and Biligirrangan hills.^[5][6]

Behaviour and ecology

Egg

Like most flycatchers, it makes sallies to capture insects and returns to its perch. It forages mainly in the lower storey^[7] but can sometimes be found on top of the canopy. The song is a series of rich warbling notes (having a resemblance to the call of the Pied Bushchat^[8]) while the usual call is a soft nasal chipping eep.^[2] They perch upright and produce the chipping note while flicking the tail up and down. The breeding season is from March to June but peak egg-laying is in April. The nest is built in a cavity in an earth bank or a tree hole. They will also use the eaves of houses and wood-work of bridges. The nest is a cup with mosses and lichens on the outside with some feathers and not very well lined.^[9] The usual clutch is two to three eggs.^[8][10][11]

References

1. ^ Jerdon TC (1840). "Catalogue of the Birds of the Peninsula of India, arranged according to the modern system of Classification". Madras Journal of Literature and Science 11: 1–38. http://www.archive.org/stream/madrasjournalli00browgoog#page/n30/mode/1up. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Rasmussen PC & JC Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Volume 2. Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions. pp. 381–382. 
3. ^ Baker, ECS (1924). Fauna of British India. Birds. Volume 2 (2 ed.). London: Taylor and Francis. pp. 242–243. http://www.archive.org/stream/BakerFbiBirds2/bakerFBI2#page/n272/mode/1up/. 
4. ^ Oates EW (1890). Fauna of British India. Birds. Volume 2. London: Taylor and Francis. p. 30. http://www.archive.org/stream/faunaofbritishin02oate#page/30/mode/1up. 
5. ^ Jerdon TC (1862). The Birds of India. Volume 1. Calcutta: Military Orphan Press. pp. 464–465. http://www.archive.org/stream/birdsofindiabein01jerd#page/463/mode/1up. 
6. ^ Ali S & SD Ripley (1996). Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. 7 (2 ed.). New Delhi: Oxford University Press. pp. 198–199. 
7. ^ Somasundaram S & L Vijayan (2008). "Foraging Behaviour and Guild Structure of Birds in the Montane Wet Temperate Forest of the Palni Hills, South India". Podoces 3: 79–91. http://wesca.net/Podoces/Podoces3/PODOCES%203_1-2_%20Foraging%20Behaviour%20in%20southern%20India.pdf. 
8. ^ ^{a b} Whistler, Hugh (1949). Popular Handbook of Indian Birds (4 ed.). London: Gurney and Jackson. pp. 125–127. http://www.archive.org/stream/popularhandbooko033226mbp#page/n161/mode/1up. 
9. ^ Morgan, Rhodes W (1875). "On the Nidification of certain South-Indian Birds". Ibis 17 (3): 313–323. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1875.tb05973.x. http://www.archive.org/stream/ibis53brit#page/318/mode/2up/. 
10. ^ Hume, AO (1890). The nests and eggs of Indian birds. Volume 3 (2 ed.). London: R H Porter. pp. 11–13. http://www.archive.org/stream/nestseggsofindia02humerich#page/11/mode/1up. 
11. ^ Oates, EW (1903). Catalogue of the collection of eggs in the British Museum. Volume 3. British Museum. p. 291. http://www.archive.org/stream/catalogueofcolle03brit#page/290/mode/1up. 

External links

• Photographs and videos
• Calls