Himalayan Bluetail

Overview

The Himalayan bluetail (Tarsiger rufilatus), also known as the Himalayan red-flanked bush-robin, is a small passerine bird generally classified as an Old World flycatcher in the family Muscicapidae. Although currently under review and not recognized as a distinct species by BirdLife International, it is distinguished from the closely related red-flanked bluetail by its migratory behaviour and plumage differences.

Identification

• Adult males exhibit an intense blue colour, while females and juveniles are greyer.
• It is a small passerine bird that differs from the red-flanked bluetail in its more intense blue plumage in males and greyer tones in non-breeding birds.

Habitat

Breeding occurs at altitudes of 3,000–4,400 m in the bush layer of conifer and mixed conifer-oak forests, favouring dwarf rhododendron in wet areas and deciduous bushes in drier ones. During winter, the species descends to 1,500–2,500 m, inhabiting broadleaf evergreen forest, dense undergrowth, clearings, and open woodland, often favouring ridges and mountain tops. It is a short-distance altitudinal migrant.

Diet

The Himalayan bluetail is insectivorous.