Scientific Name: Irena puella
Malay Name: Murai-Gajah Biasa
Chinese Name: 和平鸟
Range: Found from Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia
Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: puella, sikkimensis, andamanica, malayensis, crinigera, turcosa.
Local Subspecies: malayensis
Size: 24.5-26.5 cm
Identification: Bulky and distinctive, male is mostly black with shinning deep blue upperparts and vent while female is duller turquoise-blue overall. Bright red irises are present in both genders.
Habitat: Forest and forest edge.
Behaviour/Ecology: Often observed feeding on fig trees with green-pigeons and migratory thrushes.
Local Status: Uncommon resident
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
Location: Bukit Batok Nature Park, Dairy Farm Nature Park, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Forest.
- Local extinctions of Singapore birds (Science)
- A Year at Jelutong Tower (Birders' Stories)
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Asian Fairy-bluebird)
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Irena puella. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103775156A93991401.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
Wells, D. R. (1999). The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula (Vol. 1). Academic Press, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Asian Fairy-bluebird. Retrieved on November 15, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/asian-fairy-bluebird.