Ultramarine Flycatcher

The Ultramarine Flycatcher, also known as the White-browed Blue Flycatcher, is a diminutive and robust avian species, slightly smaller than a sparrow at approximately 10 cm in length. The male is adorned with a deep blue plumage on its upper parts and the sides of its head and neck, while a striking white patch extends from the center of its throat through the breast to the belly.

Identification Tips

To identify this species, look for the male's distinctive deep blue coloring and the white patch on its underparts. There is clinal variation in the amount of white on the brow and tail, which can help distinguish between the three subspecies. The western Himalayan subspecies boasts a white supercilium and white bases to the outer tail feathers, while the eastern Himalayan subspecies (Ficedula superciliaris aestigma) lacks distinct white patches. The population from the south Assam hills, sometimes considered a third subspecies, lacks any supercilium.

Habitat

The Ultramarine Flycatcher favors open, mixed forests composed of oak, rhododendron, pine, fir, and occasionally orchards. These habitats provide the ideal environment for breeding and foraging.

Distribution

During the summer, this species is a common breeding visitor to the western Himalayas, ranging from Jammu and Kashmir to Uttarakhand, and intergrades within Nepal with the eastern race. It breeds at elevations between 2000 and 2700 meters, occasionally ranging from 1800 to 3200 meters. In winter, it migrates to central India, from Delhi southwards to northern Maharashtra, Goa, eastward to Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, and is sometimes found as a vagrant in northern Bangladesh.

Behaviour

The Ultramarine Flycatcher is typically observed alone, though it may join mixed hunting parties in winter. It prefers the lower trees and bushes, feeding within the foliage canopy and seldom venturing into open spaces. The bird is known for its characteristic tail jerking, often accompanied by a fluffing of head feathers and a soft "trrr" note, particularly near its nest.

Song & Calls

The male's call is a soft "trrr" note, which is commonly heard when the bird is agitated or near its nest.

Breeding

The breeding season spans from mid-April to early July. The nest is a soft structure made of fine moss, bark strips, and fine grass, lined with hair and rootlets. It is placed in tree holes or clefts, or in depressions on steep banks, up to seven meters high. The Ultramarine Flycatcher also readily accepts nest boxes in hill station gardens. The female lays 3 to 5 eggs, typically 4, which are olive greenish to dull stone-buff in color and densely freckled with reddish brown.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Ultramarine Flycatcher consists mainly of insects, which it forages among the foliage canopy.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List has classified the Ultramarine Flycatcher as Least Concern, indicating that the species does not currently face a significant risk of extinction in the wild.