Black naped Monarch Flycatcher,The Nesting

The breeding season varies from June to August i.e. the rainy season.This may be due to the reason that plenty of food is vailable at that time.

The nest is a small conical cup shaped structure. It is made of fine grasses woven together plastered outside with cub webs and spider egg cases etc. It is built on a hanging twig of plants mostly at a height of 6 feet to 8 feet. The female mostly lays four numbers of eggs which are pale creamy pink color blotched with reddish brown. Both the parent incubate the egg for about 16 to 18 days. Fledging takes place in around 10 to 12 days, both the parents take care of the chicks.

The photographs are shot in Barapahad forest of Bargarh district in Orissa, India. I watch the chicks leaving the nest one by one. It is so thrilling that even I skipped my breakfast and launch to watch it. This is the beauty of bird watching. I don’t have any expensive camera. I used the pretty old Nikon F3 camera with a 200 mm lens.

Black-naped Monarch Flycatcher,The Male

The adult male black-napped monarch flycatcher is a small about 16 cm bird.The male's head, chest, back and tail are blue.The wings are darker.The belly is white.There is a black band around the throat and black crest on the crown and hence the name "Black-naped Monarch Flycatcher".It has short legs and sits upright while perched on branches.It often hunts by fly catching.It makes a sharp sound and easily noticeable.

Black-naped Monarch Fly Catcher

Black-naped Monarch Fly Catcher

Species: Hypothymis azurea

Family : Corvidae

Size : 16 cm

The Black-naped Monarch fly catcher is a small passerine bird.This bird is seen across Southern Asia from India and Srilanka east to Indonesia and Philippines.This species is usually found in thick forest mostly mixed bamboo forest and other well wooded habitats.They hunt making agile movements after winged insects.

The male and and female looks different.The female is brownish grey on the back,wings, tail and breast and has a blue grey head.The photograph above is that of an adult female.Such a graceful bird it is.Enjoy the beauty of bird watching.