Alternative name: Black-naped Blue Monarch
- Hypothymis azurea
Identification
15–17 cm, (6-6¾ in)
Male
- Pale blue head, chest, back and tail
- Wings are a darker blue
- Thin black throat band
- Whitish lower belly
- Black nape, gorget and crest
Female: duller
- Lacks black markings
- Grey-brown back, breast, wings and tail
Distribution
From India and Sri Lanka east to Indochina, southern China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore (rare and local), Indonesia and the Philippines.
Taxonomy
Pale-blue Monarch was formerly included in this species.
Subspecies
Several subspecies, including many island forms[1]:
- H. a. styani: India and Nepal to southern China and Indochina; winters to Hainan
- H. a. oberholseri: Taiwan
- H. a. forrestia: Mergui Archipelago (southern Myanmar)
- H. a. montana: Northern and central Thailand
- H. a. galerita: Peninsular Thailand
- H. a. prophata: Southern Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra and Borneo
- H. a. tytleri: Andaman Islands and Cocos Islands (Bay of Bengal)
- H. a. ceylonensis: Sri Lanka
- H. a. idiochroa: Car Nicobar Island
- H. a. nicobarica: Nicobar Islands
- H. a. opisthocyanea: Anambas Islands (South China Sea)
- H. a. javana: Java and Bali
- H. a. penidae: Penida Island (Lesser Sundas)
- H. a. karimatensis: Karimata Island (off western Borneo)
- H. a. gigantoptera: Natunas Islands (South China Sea)
- H. a. aeria: Maratua Islands (off Borneo)
- H. a. consobrina: Simeulue Island (off Sumatra)
- H. a. leucophila: Mentawi Archipelago (off Sumatra)
- H. a. richmondi: Enggano Island (Sumatra)
- H. a. abbotti: Babi and Masia islands (Malaysia)
- H. a. symmixta: Lesser Sundas
- H. a. azurea: Philippine Islands
- H. a. catarmanensis: Southern Philippines (Camiguin Sur)
Habitat
Disturbed mixed deciduous forest, forest edge and second growth, with thick undergrowth, at heights up to 1,500m.
Behaviour
Breeding
A small cup nest is built from fine grasses and moss, placed in a tree. The clutch consists of 3 eggs.
Diet
The diet includes insects.
Vocalisation
Song: Hui-hui-hui or pwee-pwee-pwee.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Birding in Taiwan
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Black-naped Monarch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 14 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Black-naped_Monarch
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
