In places with patches of green often one would hear a shrill “tick tick tick” call followed by a bolt of blue diving from within the bushes and then returning back to it's point of origin. Within the foliage one would spot the very common, widely spread and undoubtedly one of the very beautiful flycatchers of Goa- Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher.
This species usually prefers thick bushes near forests with a water source around, scrub and bamboo jungle, village groves, wooded gardens and orchards. This is a medium sized bird of 6 inches size and is sexually dimorphic, that is the male and female look different.
The male's upper parts are bright blue, its throat and breast are orange, and the rest of the underparts are white. The female is duller blue with a brighter blue brow, shoulder, rump, and tail. The juvenile of this bird however looks completely different. It is streaked and has a spotted, scaly brown head and breast, with just the wings and tail being blue.
As their name suggests, this species generally are insectivorous, that is they feed primarily on insects and that too on flies but on occasions they have also been noted to feed on frogs and lizards. While foraging, they sit upright scanning for insects and once have them in sight, snatch them from mid air.
Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher has a pan India distribution and breeds between April and August. In Goa however, two distinct breeding seasons have been noted by Ornithlogist Heinz Lainer. One is before the monsoons- May to June and the other post monsoon- September to October.
Dr. Salim Ali in his Handbook for Birds of Indian subcontinent has quoted notes of Dharma Kumarsinji who documented the courtship display of the male. “”.
During the breeding season the birds also sing, and the song is of a very metallic quality usually preceded by a series of fast “ticks”. Nests are usually made in rock ledges, and tree holes. Nests are also built over window panes and lofts of houses. Moss, leaves and grasses are usually used to construct these nests. Each clutch usually has 3 eggs.
Tickells’ Blue Flycatcher has been notified as least concerned in terms of conservation prioritization by International union for Conservation of Nature due to its large range and stable population size. Goa too has a very healthy population of this species with a day count of 3 to 10 birds being the norm.
It is likely that some birds may nest within your house during this season. In case you find a chick on the ground, put it back in the nest with least disturbance and try not to feed them as they have special dietary requirements which can be fulfilled only by the parents.
Image Credit: Arabinda Pal
