Himalayan Bluetail
Tarsiger rufilatus
Silhouette: Martin Bulla, based on François Desbordes' illustration · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyMuscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers, Robins, and Chats)
- GenusTarsiger (Bush-Robins and Bluetails)
- SpeciesTarsiger rufilatus (Himalayan Bluetail)
About the Himalayan Bluetail
The Himalayan bluetail (Tarsiger rufilatus), also called the Himalayan red-flanked bush-robin or orange-flanked bush-robin, is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher of Muscicapidae. While currently under review, this taxon is not current recognized as a species by BirdLife international.
It is closely related to the red-flanked bluetail and was generally treated as a subspecies of it in the past, but as well as differing in its migratory behaviour (the red-flanked bluetail is a long-distance migrant), it also differs in the more intense blue colour of the adult males and the greyer colour of the females and juveniles.
The Himalayan bluetail is a short-distance altitudinal migrant species, breeding in the Himalaya in bush layer (dwarf rhododendron in wetter areas, deciduous bushes in drier) of conifer and mixed conifer-oak forest, main species fir (Abies) but sometimes in areas with Picea smithiana or Pinus wallichiana/Cupressus torulosa forest; at 3000–4400 m, not penetrating beyond tree-line and in winters found at 1,500–2,500... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Himalayan Bluetail in Khangchendzonga National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Khangchendzonga National Park
White-browed Bush-Robin
Tarsiger indicus
Rufous-breasted Bush-Robin
Tarsiger hyperythrus
Golden Bush-Robin
Tarsiger chrysaeus
Blue Whistling-Thrush
Myophonus caeruleus
Verditer Flycatcher
Eumyias thalassinus
Plumbeous Water Redstart
Phoenicurus fuliginosus
Blue-fronted Redstart
Phoenicurus frontalis
Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher
Ficedula strophiata
Large Niltava
Niltava grandis
White-capped Redstart
Chaimarrornis leucocephalus
Small Niltava
Niltava macgrigoriae
Little Pied Flycatcher
Ficedula westermanni
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jiuzhaigou National Park | 🇨🇳 China | |
| 2 | Langtang National Park | 🇳🇵 Nepal | |
| 3 | Khangchendzonga National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 4 | Doi Inthanon National Park | 🇹🇭 Thailand | |
| 5 | Royal Manas National Park | 🇧🇹 Bhutan | |
| 6 | Jim Corbett National Park | 🇮🇳 India |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Himalayan Bluetail in Khangchendzonga National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Himalayan Bluetail sighting in Khangchendzonga National Park, based on 19 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Himalayan Bluetail in Khangchendzonga National Park?
February has the highest sighting rate for Himalayan Bluetail in Khangchendzonga National Park in our monthly data.