Introduction

Hello Amazing Bird lovers, from today we are starting a new series on the flycatchers of India. In this series we are going to explore awesome fkycatcher species that can be found in India. I first learned about the Nilgiri flycatcher from a YouTube video, and honestly, I was instantly captivated by its glowing indigo-blue plumage. That quick glimpse was enough to make me determined to see this bird in real life. This happened in mid-2023, around the same time a friend of mine was staying in Bangalore. He happened to visit Munnar and shared a stunning photograph of this flycatcher, which only intensified my interest and made the urge to spot it even stronger.

Behaviour,Breeding & Nesting

Since I’ve talked so much about the Nilgiri flycatcher, it’s only fair to explore the origin of its name. “Nilgiri” refers to the mountain range in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, which also extends into Karnataka and Kerala. The word itself means “Blue Mountain,” and fittingly, the Nilgiri flycatcher inhabits these misty, forest-covered highlands. Typically, at elevations around 1200 meters, you can find this species in shola forests and along the edges of coffee plantations throughout the year. Like most flycatchers, it follows the characteristic behavior—perching on a branch, darting out to catch flying insects, and returning to the same perch.

Female Nilgiri Flycatcher

The bird breeds from February to June, but despite being fairly well-known, surprisingly little is documented about its nesting habits. An image of its egg is available, which I’m including below. The nest is usually built in a cavity—either in an earth bank or inside a tree hole. Interestingly, they’ve also been known to nest under the eaves of houses or in the wooden structures of bridges. The nest itself is a cup formed with mosses and lichens on the outer surface and lightly lined with feathers inside, though it isn’t very thickly padded.

Nilgiri Flycatcher Egg

Nilgiri Flycatcher – Egg
Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

My First Sighting

The Nilgiri flycatcher is truly a beautiful species, shimmering in deep indigo-blue. I had my first sighting in Ooty, right on the premises of our hotel. Our hotel was located opposite the Doddabetta Peak, and being positioned along the hillside created the perfect habitat for spotting this bird. While casually birding around the area, I finally found this little gem—and for about an hour, I had the pleasure of observing and photographing both the male and female Nilgiri flycatchers.

Male Nilgiri Flycatcher

A Look Back: Jerdon’s Description of the Species

Interestingly, this species was first described by T.C. Jerdon in 1840 as the “NeilGherry Blue Flycatcher,” before it was later renamed as the Nilgiri Flycatcher. It was also once known as the Nilgiri Verditer Flycatcher due to its bluish coloration.

Here’s what Jerdon mentioned in his journal:

“I have hitherto only found this species on the Nilgiris, in the dense woods of which it is far from being uncommon. It captures insects of various kinds on the wing from a fixed perch; occasionally a small flock of five or six of them are seen together in a state of continual movement, taking short darts and gambols in the air, as much in sport, apparently, as in actual pursuit of insects.”

Conservation Status

The Nilgiri flycatcher is an endemic species found only in India, confined to this relatively small mountain range. Although it was previously listed as Near Threatened, it was downgraded to Least Concern by Datazone in 2017—though this classification may not accurately reflect its current situation. Considering its limited range and lack of detailed ecological studies, especially regarding nesting and behavior, more research is definitely needed to understand and protect this beautiful bird.

Data & map for Nilgiri Flycatcher courtesy of BirdLife DataZone

Sources