Blue Whistling Thrush

The Blue Whistling Thrush (Myophonus caeruleus) is a striking bird, cloaked in a dark violet-blue plumage with a lustrous spangling on the tips of its body feathers, save for the lores, abdomen, and under the tail. The wing coverts display a subtly different blue hue, with the median coverts adorned with white spots at their tips. A vibrant yellow bill provides a vivid contrast to its dark feathers, and the inner webs of the flight and tail feathers are black. Both sexes share a similar plumage, making them indistinguishable in the field.

Identification Tips

This bird measures 31–35 cm in length and weighs between 136 to 231 grams, making it notably heavier than an American robin. The wing chord ranges from 15.5–20 cm, the tarsus from 4.5–5.5 cm, and the bill from 2.9–4.6 cm. Size varies geographically, with larger individuals found in the northern parts of its range, adhering to Bergmann's rule.

Habitat

The Blue Whistling Thrush inhabits temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, often found along streams and in damp areas.

Distribution

This species is widespread across the mountains of Central Asia, South Asia, China, and Southeast Asia, with its range extending through Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tibet, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam. They exhibit altitudinal movements in the Himalayas, descending to lower elevations during winter.

Behaviour

Typically solitary or in pairs, these birds are adept at hopping on rocks and moving in quick bursts. They forage by turning over leaves and small stones, vigilantly watching for prey movement. When startled, they exhibit a characteristic spread and droop of the tail. During the breeding season, they are known to sing in the dim light of dawn and dusk, often before other birds begin their calls.

Song & Calls

The Blue Whistling Thrush is renowned for its loud, human-like whistling song, particularly at dawn and dusk. Its alarm call is a piercing 'kree'.

Breeding

Breeding occurs from April to August, with nests constructed from moss and roots, placed on ledges or hollows beside streams. Clutches typically consist of 3 to 4 eggs, and pairs may raise a second brood in a season.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet includes fruits, earthworms, insects, crabs, and snails. They are known to batter snails and crabs on rocks before consumption. In captivity, they have been observed preying on mice, and there are records of them hunting small birds in the wild.

Conservation Status

The Blue Whistling Thrush is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating a stable population without significant threats at present.