Ultramarine Flycatcher Ficedula superciliaris Scientific name definitions

11·5–12 cm; 8 g. Small, compact flycatcher, male deep blue and white. Male nominate race has short white supercilium from over eye to rear of ear-coverts; rest of head, and upperparts, including upperwing and tail, slate-blue (appearing black in dull light), slightly paler or brighter on crown, blacker on lores to cheek; white patch at side of tail base (often concealed); slate-blue extends down on to side of breast, rest of underparts white; iris dark brown; bill black; legs deep brown with grey, bluish or purplish tinge. Distinguished from F. tricolor by slightly smaller size, uniform forehead and crown, more prominent white eyebrow, whiter underparts, smaller patch of white at base of tail; from superficially very similar Siberian Blue Robin (Larvivora cyane) mainly by white supercilium, lack of black face, blue (not black) side of breast, dark (not bright pink) legs, also more erect stance and arboreal (not largely terrestrial) behaviour. Female has greyish-brown upperparts and breast side (sometimes complete breastband), underparts otherwise whitish, sometimes a blue or bluish tinge on uppertail-coverts and tail; differs from e.g. F. westermanni in larger size, no rufous on uppertail-coverts, grey-brown breast side, often bluish edgings on wings and tail. Juvenile has head and upperparts heavily spotted with buffish-white, larger and bolder spots on mantle to rump and scapulars, whitish underparts with dark bars or scaling, juvenile male with bluish edges of flight-feathers and blue tail, juvenile female with greyish wings and tail; first-year male as female, but with bluish tinge on mantle to uppertail-coverts, wings and tail, also buff tips on greater coverts and whitish fringes on tertials. Race <em>aestigma</em> male has head and upperparts more ultramarine-blue and lacks (in S Assam) or has greatly reduced (E Himalayas) supercilium and white patch at tail base, female has ashy-grey upperparts tinged browner on forehead to crown and on uppertail-coverts, and ash-grey sides of neck and breast.

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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.

Resident and migratory. Part of population makes post-breeding descent to foothills and plains, also moves S to C India (S to Karnataka), and sporadically to SE Pakistan; departs from breeding areas from end Aug to Oct, returns in Mar and Apr. Race aestigma wintering area not well known; appears to be principally NE India (E from Bihar and West Bengal), with smaller numbers E through Myanmar to NW Thailand. Three males, presumably vagrants, recorded in NE Iran in Apr 2009 (1 Cheraghi, S. and Tohidifar, M. (2010). First record of Ultramarine Flycatcher Ficedula superciliaris in Iran and the Middle East. Sandgrouse. 32: 37–38. Close ).

Diet not well known; includes small invertebrates, e.g. dipteran flies and beetles (Coleoptera). Usually solitary or in pairs in breeding season; joins mixed-species flocks in wintering areas. Actively forages in middle to upper canopy of forest trees, keeping within foliage and rarely in open; occasionally forages at lower levels and on ground. Flicks or raises tail and fluffs out breast feathers when alarmed.

Song rather weak, high-pitched and disjointed, including trills and chirps, “tseep-te-e-te-e-te-e te-tih…tseep…tse-e-eep”, repeated after short pause. Territorial or aggression calls include short, rising squeaks followed by rapid, staccato trill, “chee-tr-r-r-r”, slowing towards conclusion, and low, grating “t-r-r-r-r-r-t” rattle; during breeding season noisy, with constant warning or threat calls.