Azure-crested Flycatcher Myiagra azureocapilla Scientific name definitions

15–17 cm; 9·5–16 g. Distinctive small flycatcher. Male  is dark slate-blue above , with slightly iridescent bright azure crest and cheeks contrasting with blackish eyestripe; upperwing and tail black, suffused with blue; chin and throat to chest rich deep chestnut, edged blackish on chest, well demarcated from and contrasting strongly with white underparts ; iris dark brown; bill distinctively pale orange; legs greyish. Female is very different, rich brownish grey above, head with slaty-blue tinge and blackish patch around eye, wings and tail suffused brownish, pale tips of median and greater upperwing-coverts (forming two wingbars), whitish malar stripe, rich orange-brown chin and throat, mainly whitish underparts blotched rufous on sides of chest and flanks. Immature is similar to female but duller, with dark bill.

Until very recently considered conspecific with M. castaneigularis (which see). Monotypic.

Taveuni (N Fiji).

Native mature forest in hills and mountains, avoiding regrowth and disturbed areas. Usually in denser forest than that inhabited by sympatric M. vanikorensis.

Sedentary.

Not well known; probably similar to M. castaneiguaris. Diet insects, also spiders (Araneae). Generally seen in pairs or as family groups of three individuals; joins mixed-species feeding flocks. Forages mostly in lower and middle levels, rarely higher. Gleans from leaves, and occasionally makes aerial flycatching sallies. Behaviour also similar to that of M. vanikorensis.

Song a whistled “weet-weet-weet-weet-weet-weet” or a long drawn-out harsher slurred “weeeer”. Calls include a rapid buzzy sequence, “zwi-zwi-zwi-zwi-zwi-zwi-zi”.

Insufficient information. Season presumably May–Dec/Jan. Nest and other details presumably differs little from those of M. castaneigularis.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Fiji EBA. This species is confined to a single island, where it has a very small range totalling no more than 540 km². It is uncommon and is thought to have a relatively small population restricted to a particular habitat and which is declining owing to ongoing conversion of forest for smallholder farms. Potential future threats include deforestation as a result of the increasing human population, and perhaps cyclone damage causing reduction in forest diversity and encouraging invasive alien species. Invasive mongooses (Herpestinae), not yet established on Taveuni, could have a disastrous impact on the endemic birds.