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Eutrichomyias
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- Cerulean Flycatcher
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- Cerulean Flycatcher
- Cerulean Flycatcher

Cerulean Flycatcher Eutrichomyias rowleyi Scientific name definitions

Kees Moeliker and Christopher J. Sharpe
Version: 1.1 — Published August 18, 2021

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Field Identification

18 cm. Has incomplete white eyering, broken above and bulging in front of and behind eye; many long rictal bristles at base of bill; head dark cerulean-blue, forehead lighter blue, with slight darkening around bill; upperparts cerulean-blue, slightly paler than crown; central tail feathers blue, with shafts and centres black, outer feathers black with blue distal half of outer web; flight-feathers blackish-grey, outer webs broadly fringed blue, inner webs with narrow white fringes; greater upperwing-coverts have very dark grey centres with broad cerulean-blue fringes, ­median and lesser wing-coverts bright blue; chin and throat light grey, breast and upper flanks grey with slight blue tinge, lower flanks and vent lighter grey, centre of belly white, lower chest and upper belly mottled grey-white with definite blue tint (suggesting breastband); iris dark brown; bill black, mouth yellow; legs blue-grey, soles grey. Sexes alike. Immature has dark blue upperparts and head with strong grey-brown wash, partial eyering thinner and less striking than adult’s, smoky-grey underparts much darker than adult, and no trace of blue on breast.

Systematics History

Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

Sangihe I, N of Sulawesi.

Habitat

Broadleaf tropical hill rainforest on steep slopes in deep valleys and valley bottoms with streams, from 425 m to at least 650 m. Mostly in primary forest (85% of observations); when encountered in secondary habitat, this was always bordered by primary forest. Favours sheltered habitat in valleys, and only occasionally forages in forest on ridgetops.

Movement

Apparently sedentary.

Diet and Foraging

Diet appears to consist mostly of small invertebrates; the only identified prey an orthopteran c. 7 cm long. Mostly in small single-species groups of 2–5 individuals, occasionally in mixed flocks with Sangihe Whistler (Coracornis sanghirensis) and Sulawesi Cicadabirds (Edolisoma morio). Forages most commonly in canopy and subcanopy of trees c. 15 m tall, but also descends to low understorey vegetation, such as ferns and rattans. Frequently followed or fed close to a small squirrel (Prosciurillus), apparently attracted to insects disturbed by the mammal. Forages actively, often hovering, making looping sallies, and even descending to the ground to recover or catch prey. Snatching and gleaning from vegetation the most common technique after flycatching. Tail raised when feeding, and sometimes spread in manner of a fantail (Rhipidura) but less widely.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Contact calls most commonly heard; typical call (most often heard from feeding groups, and when feeding young) a loud, rasping “chew chew chew chew chew”, with stress on last 3 notes; single “tuk”, uttered irregularly during feeding; loud descending “chreechreechreechree” trill 5 seconds long, with rolled “r” sound; and high, scratchy, fizzing “streeeeee”, also during feeding. Alarm calls stridently, sharp notes, e.g. “schweek schweek”. A wispy whistle consisting of mixture of thin notes lasting 5 seconds may be the song.

Breeding

Few data. Single fledged juveniles seen fed by adults in early Oct and early Dec. Two nests found in understorey trees most likely belonged to this species; cup-shaped, made of dried palm-leaf fibres mixed with dried grass fibres, woven around fork of a branch by tougher vine fibres, one 2 m and other 2·5 m above ground, nest pocket slightly oval, widest diameter 47 mm, narrowest 39 mm, depth to top 40 mm; in size and form closely similar to nest of Hypothymis azurea.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife CR Critically Endangered

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. Restricted-range species: present in Sangihe and Talaud EBA. For over a century known only from type specimen, and feared extinct after searches in 1985 and 1986 failed to find any trace of the species. In Oct 1998, was rediscovered in S Sangihe, at five localities around base of Mt Sahendaruman; total population in that area (8 km² of forest) estimated at between 19 and 135 individuals, possibly not exceeding 19 (1). Most recent observation in 2013, with up to six individuals counted BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: Eutrichomyias rowleyi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 12/06/2015. . Virtually the entire island of Sangihe has been cleared of original forest (converted to agriculture), and planting of exotic trees and encroachment of subsistence agriculture threatens what remains BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: Eutrichomyias rowleyi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 12/06/2015. . There is now probably 45–60 ha of suitable habitat left BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: Eutrichomyias rowleyi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 12/06/2015. . Hunting of small birds by people with air rifles is an additional threat.

Distribution of the Cerulean Paradise-Flycatcher - Range Map
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Distribution of the Cerulean Paradise-Flycatcher

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

Moeliker, K. and C. J. Sharpe (2021). Cerulean Flycatcher (Eutrichomyias rowleyi), version 1.1. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.cepfly1.01.1
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