Order Passeriformes Higher classification Eumyias | Phylum Chordata Family Muscicapidae Scientific name Eumyias sordida Rank Species | |
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Similar Bird, Yellow‑eared bulbul, Sri Lanka white‑eye, Kashmir flycatcher, Eumyias | ||
Dull blue flycatcher sri lanka 20110223 170716 mp4
The dull-blue flycatcher (Eumyias sordida) is a small passerine bird in the flycatcher family, Muscicapidae.
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This species is an endemic resident breeder in the hills of central Sri Lanka.
The dull-blue flycatcher breeds in deciduous mountain forest, invariably above 600m, although it is not common below 900m. The main breeding season is in March and April, but a second brood is often reared later in the year.
The cup-shaped nest is a lined compact mass of moss. The site is usually a well-shaded rock ledge. The normal clutch is two or three brown-spotted pink eggs are laid.
This species is 15 cm long. It is similar in shape to the spotted flycatcher and has a loud melodic song.. Adults are ashy blue, with a whitish belly. There is a black patch between the broad black bill and the eye, bordered with brighter blue above and below. Sexes are similar, but females are slightly duller.
Juvenile dull-blue flycatchers are brown, heavily spotted on the head, back, wing-coverts and breast with pale buff; their flight feathers are broadly edged with blue-grey.
This is relatively easy bird to see, despite its forest habitat. It feeds mainly on flying insects, beetles, caterpillars and other insects, but also eats berries.
