Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara Scientific name definitions

15–18 cm; 19–24 g. Large, stocky and brightly coloured flycatcher with rounded head shape, fairly short tail and broad-based bill. Male nominate race has upper forehead, crown and nape bright ultramarine-blue, lower forehead, face to nape side, mantle and back black or blackish-blue, iridescent cobalt-blue patch on side of neck; rest of upperparts deep blue, iridescent blue on rump and tail; upperwing also deep blue, except for ­prominent bright cobalt-blue lesser coverts (“shoulder patch”); underparts uniform rich orange-rufous; iris dark brown; bill black; legs grey to dark horn or plumbeous brown. Distinguished from very similar N. davidi by more extensive bright blue on forecrown to nape (not restricted to forecrown), bright blue shoulder patch and uniformly bright rufous underparts; from N. vivida by rounded (not peaked) head shape, more extensive cobalt-blue crown (not darker on hindcrown) and all blackish-blue chin and throat; from very similar N. sumatrana by larger size and brighter blue on head and upperparts. Female has head and upperparts greyish olive-brown, fringes of wing-coverts and edges of flight-feathers bright rufous, inner webs darker or blackish, tail broadly edged dull rufous, lores to eye and chin pale buffish, broad white gorget across lower throat merging with small (and often indistinct) iridescent pale blue spot on side of neck, dull greyish-olive breast, buffish-grey below, whiter on centre of belly; distinguished from very similar female N. davidi by slightly paler or greyer head, slightly paler upperparts, duller olive flanks to undertail-coverts; from female N. vivida by whitish gorget or oval on lower throat and extensive bright rufous flight-feather edges; from very similar female N. sumatrana by larger size, lack of grey on head, breast and belly, more prominent white gorget on lower throat, lack of pale rufous on undertail-coverts; from female N. grandis by smaller size, lack of warm brown or rufous-buff on forecrown and lores, and possession of fairly broad white patch on lower throat. Juvenile is similar to female but darker brown on head and upperparts, heavily flecked on head and spotted on mantle, back and scapulars with buffish, rump and uppertail broadly tipped buff, face finely mottled buff and brown, narrow pale buffish-yellow gorget on lower throat (may be restricted to small oval patch), breast mostly pale buff with broad brown fringes, becoming brown bars or scaling on whitish belly and flanks; wing and tail bluish in male, rich brown in female. Race <em>whistleri</em> male has paler rufous underparts than nominate, and female has paler olive-grey upperparts, paler rufous tail and more greyish-olive on underparts; <em>denotata</em> male has violet-blue on crown to nape, neck-side patch, lesser coverts, rump and uppertail-coverts, purplish-blue mantle, edges of remiges and central tail feathers, outer rectrices black with purplish-blue edges, female similar to nominate but more olive-brown on crown and nape, buff on forehead, rufous-brown on mantle and rufous on uppertail-coverts and tail edges.

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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.

Undergrowth and bushes in broadleaf evergreen and mixed conifer and deciduous forests, also locally in secondary forest and heavily degraded forest areas; in Himalayas breeds to 2700 m in W and at 1500–3200 m in C & E (in Bhutan to at least 2930 m), and in SE Asia from 900 m to 2560 m. In non-breeding season usually above 1350 m and occasionally down to 800 m in Himalayas, e.g. 800–1830 m in Nepal, down to c. 900 m in NE India and as low as 245 m in Bhutan; down to c. 450 m in SE Asia.

Resident and altitudinal migrant. Those breeding in Himalayas move to lower levels in foothills and adjacent plains in Nov–Mar, some reaching NE Bangladesh; race denotata a common winter visitor N & NW Thailand from end Oct to mid-Apr.

Food includes small invertebrates and larvae, particularly ants (Hymenoptera), beetles (Coleoptera) e.g. cockchafers (Scarabaeidae), and bush-crickets (Tettigoniidae); also some fruit, such as berries. Usually solitary or in pairs; more solitary in winter, but also accompanies mixed-species flocks. Sits quietly or unobtrusively on low perch in undergrowth or lower levels of forest tree, occasionally darting out after passing insects or dropping to ground to catch prey. When perched, frequently adopts hunched position (obscuring neck-side spot and gorget); characteristically bobs body forwards and flicks and spreads tail when perched for long periods.

Song “sweeee-eh tri-tri-tr-tih”, occasionally as a short and soft “cha cha” or a higher-pitched “tsi tsi tsi tsi”. Calls include thin “seee” and hard “tic” and sharper “trrt”; alarm a husky scolding, slightly rising and rasping “z-i-i-i-f cha chuk” or “tr-r-r-tchik”.

Season Apr–Aug. Nest built by both sexes, mostly of moss, Adiantum fern stems, leaves and fine roots, placed low down in hole in tree stump, on ledge in rock crevice or in earth bank. Clutch 4 eggs; incubation by both sexes, period 12–13 days; fledging period 16–17 days. Nests parasitized by Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus saturatus) and Whistling Hawk-cuckoo (Hierococcyx nisicolor).

Not globally threatened. Scarce and local in N Pakistan, common in Nepal, and fairly common in N India and Bhutan. Uncommon in S China. Fairly common in Myanmar (except C areas, where uncommon non-breeding visitor). Status in N & C Laos uncertain; recorded in non-breeding season, but believed possibly resident.