Maroon-breasted Philentoma Philentoma velata Scientific name definitions

17–21 cm. Large and stoutly built flycatcher  . Male nominate race is almost entirely indigo-blue except for black forehead and through eye to ear-coverts and throat; breast dark maroon (in poor light appears all dark), belly and vent washed grey; iris deep red or crimson; bill black; legs black or bluish-black. Distinguished from blue-morph P. pyrhoptera by darker indigo-blue plumage, black face, maroon breast patch. Female is similar to male but generally more uniformly slate-grey, with slightly darker lores and cheeks and duller throat and breast; and may have white feather bases on lower belly and vent. Juvenile is poorly known, but is streaked and mottled above; immature male has deep chestnut or maroon on breast at early age. Race <em>caesia</em> is rather similar to nominate.

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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.

Diet largely unknown, but includes small and larger invertebrates  . Usually in pairs or small family groups. Forages by searching and pursuing insects in foliage of middle to upper canopy and vines of forest trees; very slow or sluggish, and spends long periods apparently motionless before moving after prey. Also hawks for insects on the wing with weak or dipping flight (wings make pronounced fluttering noise).

Song a series of clear bell-like “phu phu phu phu phu phu”, or a more powerfully given and squirrel-like “chut-ut chut-ut chut-ut chut-ut”. Typical contact note a harsh or grating metallic “churr”, delivered with head thrown vertically upwards.