Biology:Vivid niltava

Short description: Species of bird

Vivid niltava
In Wawu Shan, Sichuan, China
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Muscicapidae
Genus:	Niltava
Species:	N. vivida
Binomial name
Niltava vivida (R. Swinhoe, 1864)

The vivid niltava (Niltava vivida) is a bird in the family Muscicapidae. The species was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1864. It is found from the Himalayas to China and Taiwan. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. The vivid niltava a medium-sized (16 cm) member of the Old World flycatcher family, has a deep purplish blue on the head, back, tail and lesser wing coverts, and bright rufous orange below. Its throat, face, wings and iris are black as are its legs and bill. The female is olive brown overall, lighter below, with a light buffy throat and greyish-brown crown and nape. As do many members of its family, the vivid niltava bears distinct rictal bristles at the base of its bill. The Taiwan subspecies, N. v. vivida, is distinctly smaller than the mainland race N. v. oatesi.

Illustration by Joseph Wolf

References

Wikidata ☰ Q1588332 entry