Visayan Blue-Fantail Rhipidura samarensis Scientific name definitions

16 cm; 9·5–15·7 g. Male  has forehead, lores and supercilium silvery cobalt-blue, crown dark indigo, upperparts dull dark blue to greenish blue; upperwing black, remiges edged greenish-tinged blue; tail black, outer webs with broad greenish-blue fringes; chin to upper breast and thighs dull grey-blue, lower breast  and belly  white with blue-grey wash; iris brown to dark brown; bill and legs black to dark brown. Female is smaller than male. Immature resembles adult.

EC Philippines (Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Bohol).

Song a gradually ascending and decelerating series of mellow whistles ending abruptly when reaching maximum amplitude, “wu-wu-wu-wu-wU-wU-WU-WU-WU”; song begins at pace of 10–13 notes/second (vs. typically 5 notes/second and occasionally up to 9 notes/second for R. superciliaris), has total of 21–35 notes per song phrase (vs. 12–22 notes for R. superciliaris) and a phrase duration of c. 2·5–4·5 seconds. Call a fairly long, raspy, nasal “rreh” or “neh” lasting 0·1–0·16 seconds, pitch mainly flat, terminal frequency less than 1000 Hz (unlike the shorter rising call of R. superciliaris).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Restricted-range species: confined to the Mindanao and the Eastern Visayas EBA. This fantail has a large range covering some 52,200 km². Although its global population size has not been quantified, the species is very common to common in most areas of its distribution, is regularly encountered in primary and secondary forest, often being observed with mixed-species foraging flocks, and is easily located by its distinctive call. Its population is thought to be stable, with no evidence of any declines or serious threats. It occurs in Rajah Sikatuna National Park, on Bohol.