Asian Fairy Bluebird
Irena puella
Photographed at Toronto Zoo, Canada Sept 2011
The
Asian Fairy Bluebird eats fruit, nectar and some insects. The Asian fairy
bluebird can be found in altitudes up to approximately 5900 feet in southern
Asia and Malaysia. They prefer dense forests, the forest crown, and forest edge
areas in wilderness where they are not disturbed by human development.
The adult Asian Fairy Bluebird is about 9 to 11 inches. The male has glossy, iridescent blue upperparts,
and black under parts and flight feathers. The female and first year
male are entirely dull blue-green. The male changes
into adult plumage in March, the change taking place without a moult.
During the breeding season, flocks of
Asian fairy bluebirds disband to form pairs and then make their nests deep in
the jungle. As a result, little is known about their breeding behaviour.
Normally 2 eggs are laid and are incubated for about 13 days. The young fledge
(are able to fly) at about 12 days. Despite the early fledge time however; they
are not independent until they are about 42 days old.
No comments:
Post a Comment