Blue-headed fantail | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Rhipiduridae |
Genus: | Rhipidura |
Species: | R. cyaniceps |
Binomial name | |
Rhipidura cyaniceps (Cassin, 1855) | |
The blue-headed fantail (Rhipidura cyaniceps) is a fantail endemic to the northern Philippines where it is found on the islands of Luzon and Catanduanes. Until recently, it was considered conspecific with the Tablas fantail and Visayan fantail. [2]
Ebird describes it as " A medium-sized, long-tailed bird of primary and secondary forest from the lowlands to the mountains on Luzon and Catanduanes. Dull blue on the head, chest, back, and shoulder, with some paler blue streaking on the chest and crown. Has a buff belly and rufous lower back, rump, outer tail feathers, and wing, with dark central tail feathers and a dark edge to the wing. Tail often cocked and fanned while foraging. Similar to Black-naped Monarch, but has a rufous rump and tail. Voice consists of single sharp “pik!” notes given at intervals or sped up into a rapid series." [3]
Forms a species complex with the Tablas fantail and Visayan fantail. It is differentiated through molecular studies, voice, solid blue chest without shaft streaks and brown belly.
Two subspecies are recognized:
The two subspecies are poorly differentiated and may possibly be invalid - more study is required. [4]
Forages in the understory for insects and often joins mixed-species flocks that include Golden-crowned babbler, Lemon-throated leaf warbler, Black-crowned babbler Little pied flycatcher, Turquoise flycatcher, Negros leaf warbler and other small birds. Not much known about its breeding information but breeding season is believed to in February to May, in line with most other Philippine forest birds. [4]
Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest up to 2,000 meters above sea level, it is seen in a wide array of forest types from lowland Dipterocarpus forests and montane pine, oak and laurel forest. The IUCN has classified the species as being of Least Concern where it is said to be locally common and the population is believed to be stable due to its general adaptability and tolerance for degraded forest.
It is found in multiple protected areas such as Mount Banahaw, Mount Makiling, Mount Isarog, Bataan National Park and Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park but like all areas in the Philippines, protection is lax and deforestation and hunting continues despite this protection on paper. [5]
Fantails are small insectivorous songbirds of the genus Rhipidura in the family Rhipiduridae, native to Australasia, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Most of the species are about 15 to 18 cm long, specialist aerial feeders, and named as "fantails", but the Australian willie wagtail is a little larger, and, though still an expert hunter of insects on the wing, concentrates equally on terrestrial prey.
The gray-backed tailorbird is a species of bird formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, it but now placed in the family Cisticolidae. It is native to the Philippine islands of Palawan, Luzon and Catanduanes.
The short-crested monarch is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae and one of the most attractive of all the monarch flycatchers. It is a brilliant ultramarine blue bird with the males having a black facial markings with an electric blue eyering and a short crest contrasted with a pearly white belly. It is endemic to the Philippines found on the islands of Luzon, Camiguin Norte, Polilio, Catanduanes, Samar, Dinagat and Mindanao. It is found in tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is one of the most sought after birds among birdwatchers.
The Samoan fantail is a species of bird in the family Rhipiduridae. It is endemic to Samoa and is found in Upolu and Savaiʻi islands.
The black-and-cinnamon fantail is a species of bird in the fantail family Rhipiduridae. It is endemic to the island of Mindanao in the Philippines where it is found in the tropical montane forests above 1,000 meters above sea level. The specific name is derived from Latin niger for 'black', and cinnamomeus for 'cinnamon'.
The Mindanao blue fantail is a species of bird in the family Rhipiduridae. It is one of 47 species in the genus Rhipidura. It is endemic to the Philippines found only on the island of Mindanao and Basilan. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It was previously conspecific with the Visayan blue fantail.
The Luzon water redstart, also known as the Luzon redstart, is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found primarily on Luzon with no records in Mindoro since 1965. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Visayan babbler also known as the Visayan Black-crowned Babbler. is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. It is found on Samar, Leyte and Bohol. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It was formerly conspecific to the northern population of the Calabarzon black-crowned babbler but has since been split as a species due to differences in its yellowish throat and whiter belly.
The Bagobo babbler or Bagobo robin is a monotypic species of bird with its taxonomy undergoing numerous changes and is currently classified as Muscicapidae or an old world flycatcher. It is endemic to the Philippines only found in Mindanao.
The Mindanao miniature babbler also known as the Mindanao plumed-warbler is a bird species in the family Cisticolidae. It was formerly conspecific with the Visayan miniature babbler. This bird is endemic to the Philippines found only on the island of Mindanao. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests and tropical moist montane forests. At just 7 centimeters long and weighing 5 grams, it is one of the smallest birds in Asia.
The Visayan blue fantail is a species of bird in the family Rhipiduridae. It is endemic to the Philippines on the islands of Bohol, Leyte and Samar. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It was previously conspecific with the Mindanao blue fantail.
The Tablas fantail is a fantail endemic to the Philippines on Tablas Island. Until recently, it was considered conspecific with the blue-headed fantail and Visayan fantail. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Visayan fantail is a fantail endemic to the Philippines on islands of Negros, Panay, Guimaras, Masbate and Ticao. Until recently, it was considered conspecific with the blue-headed fantail and Tablas fantail.
The Calabarzon babbler is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. It is only found in Central and Southern Luzon and Catanduanes. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It previously was considered a subspecies of the black-crowned babbler. It is differentiated from its southern counterpart by having a more intense orange chin and olive-toned upper parts.
The rufous-breasted blue flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found on the Bicol Peninsula and Catanduanes. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the blue-breasted blue flycatcher. It is one of the most mysterious and least observed species with no known photos of any living bird.