Asian Fairy Bluebird (Irena puella)

Asian Fairy-Bluebird (Irena puella) is a widespread resident in Himalayan foothills and north-east India.  Size: 25 cm

Identification: The family Irenidae consists of three groups of colorful forest-loving birds. They are the Leafbirds, the Ioras and the Fairy bluebirds. The Asian Fairy Bluebird is the most colorful and the largest species. The male of this species has the crown, hind neck, back, rump and upper tail-coverts colored a brilliant turquoise, the remaining plumage being dark cobalt-blue or black. The female is a dull blue-green or purple. The males are always more brightly colored than the females.

Distribution: These birds inhabit the forests of Himalayan foothills, north-eastern India, Burma and Indochina.

Habits: Asian Fairy-Bluebirds live in the forest crown and are gregarious fruit-eaters. They live in pairs or small troops and keep to the evergreen lowland forest. They have a very loud contact call and short sharp whistles. While not migratory, they wander locally depending on the seasonal abundance of fruit. They usually travel quietly in pairs though the forest, but when a large fig tree is bearing, scores of birds may gather for the banquet together. In the heat of the day Fairy bluebirds sometimes descend in flocks to bathe in forest streams. During the breeding season the flock splits into pairs.

Food: Fairy Bluebirds feed largely on fruit and insects. They are particularly fond of wild figs, and also eat some flower nectar. They feed their young insects.

Breeding: The nest of the Fairy bluebird is built in a sapling or thin bushes deep in the forest, usually about 20 feet above ground. The nest is a tidy open cup of rootlets and twigs camouflaged with moss. These birds normally lay two greenish-white oval-shaped eggs heavily marked with brown and gray splotches and streaks. The young are born altricial, meaning they are helpless and must be fed by the parents.

Asian Fairy Bluebird [Nests & Eggs of Indian Birds by AO Hume]