Flying beauties of Himachal Pradesh

It is a small(about 12cm in size) active bird with grayish head, neck and breast.With greenish upperparts and bright yellow under parts both the sexes look similar. Abundant in forests and open wooded areas it breeds at an altitude of about 1200-2500m and can be seen in lower areas as well during winters. In Himalayas it is generally a short distance altitudinal migrant. The bird is very restless and can be seen turning and twisting in the air after insects and flies.

Ultramarine flycatcher is a beautiful bird(about 11cm in size) with male having deep blue upper parts. The sides of the head and neck are also deep blue with white eyebrow. A prominent white patch runs from centre of throat, through breast to belly. Female has grayish upperparts with blackish coloured edge of the tail. Sides of the neck and the breast are grayish white in colour. Occurring at an altitudinal range of about 1500-3200m, the bird keeps largely to low trees and bushes in open forests, bushy areas, grooves and gardens.

There are some birds that demand attention with loud calls or dramatic displays. The Verditer Flycatcher ( Eumyias thalassinus ) does neither. It simply appears—like a flash of brilliant turquoise against the deep green of the Himalayan forest—and for a few moments everything else seems to fade into the background. The first thing that strikes an observer is its extraordinary colour. Perched quietly on a bare branch, the bird seems almost unreal, as if someone had carefully painted it with the brightest shades of blue. When sunlight filters through the trees, its plumage glows with a richness that photographs can only partly capture. In the forests of Himachal Pradesh, encountering a Verditer Flycatcher is always a memorable experience. It is one of those birds that encourages you to pause, watch patiently and appreciate the quiet beauty of the mountains. Quick Facts Common Name: Verditer Flycatcher Scientific Name: Eumyias thalassinus Family: Muscicapidae Length: About 16–...

Among the many beautiful birds that grace the forests of Himachal Pradesh, few capture the imagination quite like the Asian Paradise Flycatcher ( Terpsiphone paradisi ) . With its graceful flight, glossy black head, striking blue eye-ring and, in adult males, spectacular ribbon-like white tail streamers, this bird truly lives up to its name. Although often seen only for a few fleeting moments as it darts through the forest canopy in pursuit of insects, every encounter with the Asian Paradise Flycatcher leaves a lasting impression. During the breeding season, its presence adds movement, colour and vitality to woodland habitats. The bird is called  Dudhraj  in Hindi due to milky white colour of its body. The long white tail of the bird looks even more beautiful when it flies in a wavy motion up and down, manoeuvring in the sky to catch insects.The long tail is used to impress the female and may be for balancing the body during frequent changes of direction in flight. ...

This male Paradise Flycather is one of the most spectacular birds with beautiful combination of white/grey /black colours and metallic blue colour arround the eyes