Blue-winged Leafbird

Chloropsis moluccensis

Family: Leafbirds · Status: Uncommon resident · Size: 16.5–18.5 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Occurs from southern China, through Indochina to the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo.

Identification

Male has green upperparts, yellower underparts, a black mask and throat surrounded by yellow, and a short cobalt-blue submoustachial stripe. Female is mostly green with a bluish malar band and a turquoise submoustachial stripe. Both sexes have bright turquoise-blue outer wing feathers and the sides of the tail which distinguishes this species from Greater and Lesser Green Leafbird. Juvenile resembles female but lacks blue on face and malar area; its wing and tail blue is fainter than in adults.

Habitat

Favours secondary forest and the edges of forest; also mixed orchards and clearings near forest.

Behaviour

Often seen foraging on canopies foraging for insects or fruits, sometimes in mixed species flocks.