Ultramarine Flycatcher

About the Ultramarine Flycatcher

The ultramarine flycatcher or the white-browed blue flycatcher (Ficedula superciliaris) is a small arboreal Old World flycatcher in the Ficedula genus. Its breeding range extends from eastern Afghanistan to the Hengduan Mountains; it winters in India and northwestern Indochina.

Somewhat smaller in size than a sparrow (c. 10 cm) and with a stocky build. The male is deep blue above, sides of head and neck are deep blue, and a prominent white patch runs from centre of throat, through breast to belly. The amount of white on the brow and tail show clinal variation from West to East along the Himalayan foothills, which is sometimes taken to distinguish three subspecies:

The western subspecies from the western Himalayas has a distinctive white supercilium and white bases to the outer tail feathers. The eastern subspecies (Ficedula superciliaris aestigma) from the eastern Himalayas lacks distinct white patches.

The population from the south Assam hills (sometimes designated a third subspecies cleta) completely lack any supercilium. Usually singly, though sometimes in mixed hunting parties in the winter. Keeps largely to the low trees and bushes, feeding among the foliage... Wikipedia →