The Cyornis Blue

Leaving this blog for more than a year, mainly because of my study. Now, as still during the unemployed period, I have more time and better start again and focusing more on bird ID.

In this Feb and March, two Cyornis species, Chinese Blue Flycatcher Cyornis glaucicomans and Hill Blue Flycatcher Cyornis banyumas were recorded in Hong Kong. I took the chance and manage to get some shots of both. The Chi Blue is quite elusive while the latter one is being fed, allowing me to take photos of reasonable quality.

Male Cyornis is usually in a combination of blue plus yellow and sometime causing problems in identification, while female is duller and much more troublesome. Luckily, the two we have recorded recently are first-winter male, and assuming adult plumage in this time of year.

Chinese Blue Flycatcher, note the brownish wing indicating this is a 1st winter bird

The key feature for separating from Hill Blue is mainly the throat. For Chi Blue, the yellow throat is more limited, showing a very narrow triangle and blue chin.

Chinese Blue Flycatcher

The Hill Blue also showing brownish wing, and pale tips on tertials.

  

Hill Blue Flycatcher

Hill Blue Flycatcher

Hill Blue Flycatcher

 The yellow throat of Hill Blue is wider and showing a yellow chin in most of the angles.

Hill Blue Flycatcher

Hill Blue Flycatcher

A comparison

Although both flycatchers are put on the latest HK checklist cat I, male Cyornis is a common pet species and many of the past records are treated as escaped birds. For the case of Hill Blue, the closest range is Guangxi and mainly non-migratory, under the subspecies whitei. Worn feather especially the tail can be observed in this bird, leaving us a question whether this bird is truly wild or not.

Hill Blue Flycatcher

And according to the recent studies, the Jungle Flycatcher is also grouped into the genus Cyornis, like this Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher Cyornis brunneatus taken in mainland China few years ago.

Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher

Northern House Martin 22 DEC 2015

Thanks to John Allcock again who found these Northern House Martin Delichon urbicum lagopodum, which is my 433th in HK.

To tell these are Northern by:
1. Large, clean white rump and upper-tailed covert
2. Large, clean white vent and lower-tailed covert
3. White chin
4. Brown underwing

Narcissus on PT 13 DEC 2015

The final answer for me is just a nominated Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina narcissina.

a female Fujian Niltava Niltava davidi with no problem.

Ending the day with a large dove, the Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis. (why not a green pigeon...)

Booted and Radde's 4 DEC 2015

The Booted Warbler Iduna caligata is still around. I did manage to get some better shots. At the same spot, a newly arrived Radde's Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi is very friendly for photos.

Note the whitish out-tail.

Here's the radde's.

And two prinia, Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris and Plain Prinia Prinia inornata.

Booted Warbler 29 NOV 2015

Booted Warbler Iduna caligata, the 3rd HK first in a week, mai po again.

We think this is booted but not Syke's Warbler Iduna rama because:

1. Smaller size and shorter tail
2. Supercilium beyond eye only
3. Shorter bill with no pale lower mandible
4. Respond to booted call