Black-naped Monarch - BirdForum Opus

Alternative name: Black-naped Blue Monarch

Male
Photo by Romy Ocon
Mount Makiling, Laguna Province, Philippines, July 2004

Hypothymis azurea

Identification

15–17 cm, (6-6¾ in)
Male

• Pale blue head, chest, back and tail
• Wings are a darker blue
• Thin black throat band
• Whitish lower belly
• Black nape, gorget and crest
  

Female
Photo by kctsang
Sepilok, Sabah, Eastern Malaysia, May 2007

Female: duller

• Lacks black markings
• Grey-brown back, breast, wings and tail

Distribution

From India and Sri Lanka east to Indochina, southern China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore (rare and local), Indonesia and the Philippines.

Taxonomy

Pale-blue Monarch was formerly included in this species.

Subspecies

Sub-adult
Photo by robby thai
Mae Wong National Park, Thailand, August 2015

Several subspecies, including many island forms^[1]:

• H. a. styani: India and Nepal to southern China and Indochina; winters to Hainan
• H. a. oberholseri: Taiwan
• H. a. forrestia: Mergui Archipelago (southern Myanmar)
• H. a. montana: Northern and central Thailand
• H. a. galerita: Peninsular Thailand
• H. a. prophata: Southern Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra and Borneo
• H. a. tytleri: Andaman Islands and Cocos Islands (Bay of Bengal)
• H. a. ceylonensis: Sri Lanka
• H. a. idiochroa: Car Nicobar Island
• H. a. nicobarica: Nicobar Islands
• H. a. opisthocyanea: Anambas Islands (South China Sea)
• H. a. javana: Java and Bali
• H. a. penidae: Penida Island (Lesser Sundas)
• H. a. karimatensis: Karimata Island (off western Borneo)
• H. a. gigantoptera: Natunas Islands (South China Sea)
• H. a. aeria: Maratua Islands (off Borneo)
• H. a. consobrina: Simeulue Island (off Sumatra)
• H. a. leucophila: Mentawi Archipelago (off Sumatra)
• H. a. richmondi: Enggano Island (Sumatra)
• H. a. abbotti: Babi and Masia islands (Malaysia)
• H. a. symmixta: Lesser Sundas
• H. a. azurea: Philippine Islands
• H. a. catarmanensis: Southern Philippines (Camiguin Sur)

Habitat

Disturbed mixed deciduous forest, forest edge and second growth, with thick undergrowth, at heights up to 1,500m.

Behaviour

Breeding

A small cup nest is built from fine grasses and moss, placed in a tree. The clutch consists of 3 eggs.

Diet

The diet includes insects.

Vocalisation

Song: Hui-hui-hui or pwee-pwee-pwee.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Avibase
3. Birding in Taiwan
4. Wikipedia

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Black-naped Monarch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Black-naped_Monarch

External Links

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