Irena puella puella

(Latham, 1790)

Vernacular names
English : Asian fairy-bluebird
French : Irène vierge

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Passeriformes
Family : Irenidae
Notes : 4 other subspecies known

Identification
Adults can reach a total length of 25.8 cm for a weight of 75 g. Female is dull blue with black stripes on wings. Male is black with bright blue crown, back, upper wings and tail coverts. This subspecies has blue tail coverts stop at start of tail.

Range and habitat
This subspecies lives in south-west India and from North-east India to south China and south Thailand. Species also found in Malaysia and west Indonesia. Lives in tropical evergreen forest, montane forest and plantations, to 1900 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : This species is mostly common in its range but some populations, especially in Indonesia and Philippines threatened by hunting and loss of habitat.
Ex-Situ Programs : EEP in Europe

Observation
Hong Kong Ocean Park (Hong Kong)

 

Back to “Leafbirds and Fairy blue birds” page