- Fairy-bluebird
Taxobox
name = Fairy-bluebirds
image_width = 200px
image_caption = "Asian Fairy-bluebird"
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Passeriformes
subordo =Passeri
familia = Irenidae
familia_authority = Jerdon, 1863
genus = "Irena"
genus_authority = Horsfield, 1821
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = |
range_
range_map_width = 200px
range_map_caption = "Irena puella" light green,
"Irena cyanogaster" dark greenThe two fairy-bluebirds are small
passerine bird species found in forests and plantations in tropical southernAsia and thePhilippines . They are the sole members of thegenus "Irena" and family Irenidae, and are related to theiora s andleafbird s.These are
bulbul -like birds of open forest or thorn scrub, but whereas that group tends to be drab in colouration, fairy-bluebirds are sexually dimorphic, with the males being dark blue in plumage, and the females duller green.These species eat fruit, especially figs, and maybe some insects. They lay 2-3 eggs in a tree nest.
The call of the Asian Fairy-bluebird is a liquid two note "Glue-It".
As the names would suggest, the Asian Fairy-bluebird occurs across southern
Asia , and the Philippine Fairy-bluebird in that archipelago.Taxonomy
The first scientists to examine fairy-bluebirds placed them in the
roller genus "Coracias ", presumably on the strength of the iridescent blueplumage on the back. This was challenged in the 1820s byThomas Horsfield and Coenraad Temminck, who suggested a relationship instead with thedrongo s.Wells, D. (2005) "Family Irenidae" P.p 268-277 "in" del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2005). "Handbook of the Birds of the World . Volume 10: Cuckoo-Shrikes to Thrushes." Lynx Edicions. ISBN 8487334725] It was variously placed with thebulbul s andoriole s as well. On the basis of theDNA-DNA hybridization studies of Sibley and Alhquist its closest relatives have now been identified as theleafbird s. The leafbirds are sometimes included in the family Irenidae with the fairy-bluebirds, but the time since the apparent divergence suggests that they are better treated as separate families.Morphology
Fairy-bluebirds are robust birds that resemble Old World
oriole s in shape and size. Males are larger than females, and the two species weigh between 50-100 g, with some of that variation being caused by sexual differences and some by geographic variation. There are clines in size differences in both species which can be attributed toBergmann's rule , with the northernmost pouplations being larger on average. Both species have a powerful deep and notched bill used for crushing, with that of the Philippine species being larger. Their feet are small, which suggests that they spend less time climbing in order too feed and more time on the wing.The
plumage of the fairy-bluebirds is exceptional, with the upperparts being deep rich blue. The Asian Fairy-bluebird is sexually dimorphic in its plumage, with the male being much brighter than the female, but the Philippine Fairy-bluebird exibits much less difference and the female is almost as bright as the male. The deep colour is provided by specialised naked feather-tip barbs. Although the fairy-bluebirds are highly visible in sunlight they are much more cryptic in the shade of the forest.Distribution and habitat
The Asian Fairy-bluebird has a discontinuous distribution from
India toJava andVietnam . In India the species is present in the south west of the country and in the north east. FromBurma it has a continuous distribution (in suitable habitat) throughout most of South East Asia, and down intoBorneo andSumatra , as well as on theAndaman Islands . The species has not been reliably recorded onSri Lanka since the 1870s. The Philippine Fairy-bluebird is found onLuzon ,Polillo ,Leyte ,Samar ,Mindanao ,Dinagat andBasilan .The fairy-bluebirds are dependent upon fruit producing forests, but both species seem to exist in a wide range of forests, both evergreen and semi-evergreen. Within forests they are generally found in the canopy.
Behaviour
Pairs or small groups (individuals are seldom seen alone) of fairy-bluebirds forage widely to obtain food. Fruit, particularly figs in the genus "
Ficus ", are the most important item in the diet of fairy-bluebirds. Fairy-bluebirds will generally eat fruit of a certain size, and will crush larger fruits in order to make them manageable. Most food is obtained in the canopy. In addition to fruit berries may be eaten, as well asnectar , although this behaviour has only been reported in birds in India. In contrast to adults, hoeever, insects are the principal component of the diet of nestlings. In thePhilippines birds have been observed following troops ofmacaque s, possibly in order to collect flushed insects. [Ken Stott, Jr. (1947) "Fairy Bluebird: Long-Tailed Macaque Association on Mindanao" "Auk" 64 (1): 130]pecies
*
Asian Fairy-bluebird , "Irena puella"
*Philippine Fairy-bluebird , "Irena cyanogaster"References
External links
* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/familia.phtml?idFamilia=174 Fairy-bluebird videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.