Fairy-bluebird

The three fairy-bluebirds are small passerine bird species found in forests and plantations in tropical southern Asia and the Philippines.

These are bulbul-like birds of open forest or thorn scrub, but whereas that group tends to be drab in colouration, fairy-bluebirds are sexually dimorphic, with the males being dark blue in plumage, and the females duller green.

The first scientists to examine fairy-bluebirds placed them in the genus Coracias, presumably on the strength of the iridescent blue plumage on the back.

From Burma it has a continuous distribution (in suitable habitat) throughout most of Southeast Asia, and down into Borneo and Sumatra, as well as on the Andaman Islands.

The Philippine fairy-bluebird is found on Luzon, Polillo, Leyte, Samar, Mindanao, Dinagat and Basilan.

[citation needed] Pairs or small groups (individuals are seldom seen alone) of fairy-bluebirds forage widely to obtain food.

In the Philippines birds have been observed following troops of macaques, possibly in order to collect flushed insects.

Nests are constructed in trees or tall bushes from twigs, moss and grasses, and males and females cooperate in rearing chicks.

Female feeding on Ficus figs