Asian Fairy-bluebird
A species of Fairy-bluebirds Scientific name : Irena puella Genus : Fairy-bluebirds
Asian Fairy-bluebird, A species of Fairy-bluebirds
Botanical name: Irena puella
Genus: Fairy-bluebirds
Content
Description General Info
Description
The Asian fairy bluebird measures 24 to 27 centimetres (9.4 to 10.6 in) in length. The iris is crimson and eyelids pinkish; the bill, legs and claws are black, and mouth a flesh- colour. Marked sexual dimorphism is evident. The male is a shining ultramarine-blue with lilac reflections on its upper plumage, lesser wing coverts, and under tail coverts, while the sides of its head and the whole lower plumage are deep black; greater wing-coverts, quills, and tail black, and some of the coverts tipped with blue, and the middle tail-feathers glossed with blue. The upper plumage, the lesser wing coverts, and the lower tail coverts of the female are brownish blue, with the edges of the feathers brighter. The middle tail feathers and the outer webs of all the others, except the outer pair, like the upper plumage, and remainder of tail dark brown. primaries and secondaries dark brown. The greater wing coverts, primary coverts, and tertiaries dark brown, with a blue tinge on the outer webs. Sides of the head and whole lower plumage blue, very similar to the upper parts. The young resemble the female. The male changes into adult plumage in March, the change taking place without a moult. The feathers of the upper parts first become fringed with bright blue, then the tail coverts change, and finally the lower plumage changes. Young birds with the lower plumage mixed black and dull blue, and the upper plumage like that of the adult are frequently seen. There are several subspecies, including I. cyanea malayensis from the Malay Peninsula, where the male differs in having the undertail coverts longer, nearly reaching to the tip of the tail.
Size
26 cm
Life Expectancy
11-16 years
Nest Placement
Tree
Feeding Habits
Asian Fairy-bluebird, a frugivore, primarily consumes various fruits, showing a preference for figs. Asian Fairy-bluebird forages in the canopy, employing a methodical search technique during the day. This bird species exhibits no distinctive dietary adaptations.
Habitat
Asian Fairy-bluebird thrives in tropical to subtropical evergreen or semi-evergreen forests across varied elevations, typically from plains to 1800 meters. Favoring dense vegetation, these birds are less commonly found up to 1900 meters. Outside typical forests, they also inhabit heath and degraded forests, as well as non-native plantations and cultivated lands like tea gardens, especially during certain flowering or fruiting periods.
Dite type
Frugivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Fruit
Behavior
This bird is common in most of the tracts it frequents, going about in small parties or in pairs.
Distribution Area
The Asian fairy bluebird is found in Sri Lanka and the western coast of India from Travancore up to the latitude of Belgaum and Sawantwadi; Sikkim and the lower ranges of the Himalayas to Dibrugarh in Assam; the Khasi Hills; Cachar; Manipur; Bangladesh; Arrakan; Bago and Taninthayi Division in Burma; the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In southeast Asia it occurs throughout most of Indochina (including Peninsular Malaysia), Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Palawan, and on smaller nearby islands. In the Indian part of its range this species is confined to the evergreen forests of the hills and plains, but elsewhere it is regular in various types of humid and deciduous forests from lowlands up to about 1,600 metres (5,200 ft). The species has been reported to be more frequent in mature rainforests and in rustic cardamom plantations under native shade trees than in coffee plantations.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Irenidae Genus
Fairy-bluebirds Species
Asian Fairy-bluebird