Blue Whistling-Thrush Myophonus caeruleus Scientific name definitions

29–35 cm; 136–231 g. Male nominate race is bluish-black, upper body to rump covered with metallic violet-blue spots, with concentration from forehead to crown side; lower body, wings and tail deep dull blue, with a few silvery-grey spots on median upperwing-coverts, often concealed dull royal-blue shoulder patch (lesser wing-coverts); eye reddish, variable; bill and legs black. Female is similar but duller. Juvenile  is sooty-black  , with thin whitish shaft streaks on breast. Other races differ from nominate in having yellow bill with varying amount of black on culmen, and juveniles show little or no white streaking: <em>temminckii</em> is larger, with often larger shoulder patch, more distinctive forehead-band, browner eye; <em>eugenei</em> is almost identical to previous, but lacks silvery spots on median coverts; crassirostris is very like nominate but slightly smaller, with thicker, slightly shorter bill, underwing often with white patch at base of primaries; dichrorhynchus dullest race, bill slightly larger than in nominate; <em>flavirostris</em> is like last but darker, with shorter tail, and has most white on concealed belly and rump feathers.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Broadleaf evergreen and mixed deciduous forests and more open bush with scattered larger trees, commonly in gorges and ravines; breeds at 1000–4000 m (occasionally wandering above tree-line), wintering from lowlands (sometimes in mangroves) to 2400 m. Occurs in undergrowth and ground near running water of various types, from small low-gradient rocky streams to major noisy rivers (also sometimes along mule tracks and forest paths). Typical bird of irrigated terraces in NE Burma; on Langkawi I (Peninsular Malaysia), occurs in mangrove and scrub as well as tall forest, and in Hong Kong regularly feeds on lawns of parks and gardens, and is also found on small wooded offshore islets. Sometimes seen at considerable distance from water, and enters open rocky ground and cultivated areas. Often found near limestone outcrops, and will enter caves and large drains beneath roads and culverts.

Resident, but subject to vertical movements. In Himalayas winters mostly down to foothills, but in Afghanistan and N Pakistan spreads into adjacent plains. Sedentary in Myanmar, also uncommon winter visitor to E Myanmar, also to N Thailand , Laos and Vietnam.

Invertebrates such as water beetles, ants and other hymenopterans, cockchafer larvae, dung beetles, slugs, snails, crabs , froglets, earthworms; also berries (in one case Ziziphus) and seeds. In one account, diet found to be almost exclusively snails, which are broken against rock, often leaving heaps of fragments in well-frequented areas. Grubs seen brought to nestlings. Feeds on damp ground, moving in long hops and turning over leaf litter, listening for movement, or picking its way along muddy margins and in shallow water; often forages along interstices of screes and talus, and digs vigorously in soft ground. Crepuscular. In study in Nepal, 7% of observations of foraging position involved mid-river rocks, 34% marginal rocks, 7% other positions in river, 7% shoals or marginal ground and 45% riparian grounds.

Song  , given all year, generally from tree or cliff, sometimes briefly in flight, is a long disjointed string of casually melodious phrases composed of loud, clear, high-pitched, resonant, short, remarkably human-like whistles, rather high-pitched and wispy in tone, sometimes with mimicry; eugenei song louder; courtship song, preceding copulation, a subdued bubbling chatter interspersed with buzzing calls. Calls include strident far-carrying upslurring “tzeet tze-tze-tzeet” or “bzueeet” (at dusk and dawn as long series, starting slowly with one set of “tzeet-tzeet” every few seconds, then interspersed with shorter grating calls and ending accelerando in “tzeet-tzuit-tzuit-tzuit-zuit”); also, a loud thin shrill “skreee” or “fwiiiiii” recalling that of Enicurus leschenaulti, slightly downslurred, sometimes lower-pitched, shorter and more strongly downslurred.

Apr–Aug in N & W of range; Apr–Jul in Nepal; Feb–Apr in extreme S Myanmar, later in rest of country, with second broods to end Jul; Apr–Jul in SE China; Jan–May in Peninsular Malaysia; Oct–Apr in Java; double-brooded throughout range (except at highest altitudes). Nest  a bulky cup of green moss and muddy moss roots interwoven with fine grass  , leaf stems and skeletons, tendrils and rootlets, placed on ledge in cliff or in overhanging bank, cave or crevice by rushing water, sometimes in tree fork, in old tree cavity, under bridge or on beam or rafter in isolated bungalow or temple, once on external part of air-conditioner; nest may be reused in successive years (one for 6 years), possibly not always by same pair; sometimes new nest built for second brood. Eggs 2–5 (2–3 in Peninsular Malaysia and Java), whitish, pale bluish-grey, olive-grey, grey-green or buff with reddish or brownish freckles. Brood-parasitized by Large Hawk-cuckoo (Hierococcyx sparverioides).

Not globally threatened. Common in most of range wherever watercourses present. In Afghanistan, one of commonest species along rivers and side-streams in Nuristan; familiar in and near hill towns in Himalayas . Common in China, including Hong Kong. Common and widespread in Myanmar. Fairly common in Peninsular Malaysia. Uncommon in Sumatra and Java. Density in possibly optimal habitat (riverine Alnus vegetation) 1 pair every 250–300 m of river.