Blue-capped Redstart
A species of Typical Redstarts Scientific name : Phoenicurus coeruleocephala Genus : Typical Redstarts
Blue-capped Redstart, A species of Typical Redstarts
Botanical name: Phoenicurus coeruleocephala
Genus: Typical Redstarts
Content
Description
Photo By Ashwin Viswanathan
Description
The blue-capped redstart (Phoenicurus coeruleocephala) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is found in most of the Himalayas and the northern parts of the Indian Subcontinent, with its range extending across Tajikistan and Afghanistan into India, from Jammu & Kashmir eastwards across Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal, to Nepal and Bhutan, and further east to Arunachal Pradesh and adjoining regions. Its natural habitat is temperate forests.
Size
15 cm
Feeding Habits
Blue-capped Redstart predominantly consumes insects, particularly during summer, supplementing its diet with berries and seeds. It demonstrates a sally-to-ground foraging method, and is skilled in catching flying prey mid-air. It forages mostly arboreally and is characterized by its distinct tail-shaking behavior.
Habitat
The blue-capped Redstart thrives in open, dry forest regions with sparse undergrowth, favoring mixed woodlands composed of pine-cypress, deodar, fir with birch, and juniper species. It is also found in hazel scrublands and rocky hillside scrubs. In terms of broader geographical regions, it occupies habitats within the Himalayas and extends to areas characterized by similar environmental conditions in Central Asia. During winter months, blue-capped Redstart migrates to open valleys and hillsides with less elevation, often inhabiting lower storeys of conifer forests, particularly where it coexists with other similar species.
Dite type
Insectivorous
Photo By Ashwin Viswanathan
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Old world flycatchers Genus
Typical Redstarts Species
Blue-capped Redstart