Alternative name: Black-mantled Fairy-bluebird
- Irena cyanogastra
Identification
23.3-27.5cm (9¼-10¾ in).
- Deep black lores, frontal band above bill, face, side of neck, chin, throat and upper breast
- Rich, glossy royal blue cap with violet tinge, extending to upper neck
- Deep indigo blue rest of neck, scapulars and upper body
- Black and blue wings
- Blue tail with black centre
- Deep indigo underparts, undertail-coverts broadly tipped glossy royal blue
- Red eye
- Subspecies differ mainly in extent of black versus indigo on upperparts
Females similar to males but slightly duller and less sharp demarcation of ventral indigo against black.
Distribution
Endemic to the Philippines.
Still common in suitable habitat. However, has declined as habitat is rapidly fragmented and lost due to deforestation.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Four subspecies recognized[1]:
- I. c. cyanogastra in northern Philippines (Luzon and Polillo)
- I. c. ellae in the Philippines (Bohol, Samar and Leyte)
- I. c. melanochlamys in southern Philippines (Basilan)
- I. c. hoogstraali in southern Philippines (Mindanao and Dinagat)
Formerly considered conspecific with Asian Fairy-bluebird.
Habitat
Found in closed-canopy lowland evergreen forest and lower montane forest.
Occurs from plains up to c. 1500m.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on fruit, especially figs. Forages high in top canopy, venturing also to fruit crops at forest edge.
Breeding
Breeding season probably from March to August. Nest obviously cup-shaped. No other information.
Movements
This is a resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and D Christie, eds. 2005. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 10: Cuckoo-Shrikes to Thrushes. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334726
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Philippine Fairy-bluebird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 25 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Philippine_Fairy-bluebird
