Zappey's Flycatcher

Overview

Zappey's flycatcher (Cyanoptila cumatilis) is a migratory songbird belonging to the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It breeds in central China and winters in Southeast Asia, where it is closely related to and was formerly considered conspecific with the blue-and-white flycatcher.

Identification

• A large flycatcher measuring 17 cm in length.
• Males display slightly greenish turquoise-blue upperparts, a greenish-black face and upper breast, and pure white underparts with faint greyish flanks.
• Females resemble males in pattern but feature greyish-brown upperparts instead of blue, along with a white throat.
• Both sexes possess dark grey to black bills and legs with brown eyes.

Habitat

The species breeds in central China, ranging from central Sichuan northeast to the mountains west of Beijing. It migrates to winter south in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Java.

Did you know?

It differs from the similar blue-and-white flycatcher by having a greener-toned blue and black plumage, compared to the more intense dark blue and black of its relative.