Blue Whistling Thrush
Seeming almost black from a distance, this feathered inhabitant of the Himalayas has the same name as that of the elusive fairy bird of happiness. A close relative of thrush Blue Whistling Thrush (lat. Myophonus caeruleus) can be found in almost all the countries of Central and South-East Asia. To the branches of trees this beautiful blue bird prefers stones in the deep hollows, near the mountain streams, lakes and shallow rivers. The bird grows up to 35 cm in length and has a long tail. The wing coverts have different shades of blue and the median coverts have white spots at their tips. And the yellow beak stands in contrast. In addition, the inner webs of the flight and tail feathers are black.
The beautiful blue birds settle singly or in pairs in the mountain gorges, in some places covered with bushes. During warmer months, they climb to a height of 3,500 meters, where ends the upper limit of the forest.
Closer to winter these nomadic birds go down and take the liked gorge for the whole family. A pair of blue birds may return to the usual place for years, protecting it from unwanted visitors and banishing already become independent their own chicks.
Blue Whistling Thrush is known for its melodic trills, audible at sunset and at dawn. Although the volume (blue birds singing is heard even through the sound of the waterfall), their voices have a pleasant tone and remind flute.
Sources:
Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia. Vol. 11 Birds
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