Black-naped Monarch

The Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea, Taiwanese subspecies H. a. oberholseri) is a small bird of the monarch flycatcher family. It is mainly distributed in forests, hills, secondary forests, and wooded environments below an altitude of about 1,500 meters in Taiwan. It can also be found in green spaces such as parks and campuses, and is a common resident bird in Taiwan. The most striking feature of the male is its vibrant cobalt blue plumage. It has a distinct black patch on the back of its head and a narrow black band across its chest, making it highly recognizable and the origin of its name, 'Black-naped Monarch'. The female's plumage is much more subdued, with a grayish-blue head and chest, and brownish back, wings, and tail feathers, resulting in a significant difference in appearance between males and females. They primarily feed on small insects, often perching on branches to observe their surroundings. Once they spot flying insects, they quickly dart out to catch them and then return to their original or a nearby perch. This 'perch-fly-return' hunting method is a very typical foraging behavior of the Black-naped Monarch. The Black-naped Monarch is about 15-16 cm long. Although small in size, its movements are quite agile. Its call is also distinctive, usually a loud and continuous whistling sound of 'whee, whee, whee', which is easily noticeable in the forest. During the breeding season, they build cup-shaped nests at the fork of branches, and both males and females participate in incubation and raising the chicks. Image source: https://share.google/XUsws8kUCIqtyxVhC