Update - PALAWAN BLUE FLYCATCHER - male and female

[Ramon Quisumbing]

UPDATE 6/29/12

On 6/27/12, I was back in my favorite birding area in Capayas Creek, Mt. Darala outside Coron, Busuanga, Palawan. I closed on the purchase of a 1,300 square meter parcel of forested land beside the creek, which I will fence off and preserve for the birds – to be called the “Capayas Creek Bird Preserve”. Birders will, of course, be welcome.

I heard a nice call and looked up at the forest understorey – and saw a lifer! Bird guide Erwin Edonga excitedly identified it as a “Palawan Flycatcher”. I reminded him of his previous mistake with the male Palawan Blue Flycatcher 3 weeks ago. Thanks to Desmond Allen, this is identified as a female Palawan Blue Flycatcher. Perhaps this is the mate of the male PBF that I captured in the same area 3 weeks ago. In my opinion, the female is better-looking than the male.

Canon 1D Mark IV camera, 800 mm lens, tripod.


F/5.6, ISO-1600, 1/160 second, manual exposure.


1.4x extender, F/8, ISO-1600, 1/60 second, manual exposure.


F/5.6, ISO-1600, 1/160 second, manual exposure.


F/5.6, ISO-1600, 1/160 second, manual exposure.

I note that this female PBF has a full orange rufous breast, consistent with the KG description. But the male PBF 3 weeks ago had very little orange rufous on the breast. Why?

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While I was birding in Mt. Darala, Coron, Busuanga on 6/8/12, my bird guide Erwin Edonga spotted what he identifed as a "Palawan Flycatcher" in the understorey of the forest. It had a nice call and was quite elusive, so we had to chase it a bit.

Thanks to Des, this is identified as a Palawan Blue Flycatcher (not a Palawan Flycatcher which has no blue). Since the female PBF is brown, this is a male PBF. A lifer for me!

I note though that it has very little orange rufous on the breast. Hopefully, our experts can explain this.


Canon 1D Mark IV camera, 800 mm lens, tripod. F/5.6, ISO-1600, 1/320 second, manual exposure.


F/5.6, ISO-1600, 1/400 second, manual exposure.


F/5.6, ISO-1600, 1/250 second, manual exposure.

[Ely Teehankee]

This Palawan Blue Flycatcher is a frisky little bird. I was able to take the picture of this bird once:
birdphotoph.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=feature&action=display&thread=3209
Congratulations on your lifer. Well done Ramon & Mabuhay.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Ely. Your photo is great. I can see that I have to improve on my photo-processing.

I note that your PBF also has very little orange rufous on the breast. I wonder why.

[Ely Teehankee]

Jun 14, 2012 2:22:01 GMT Ramon Quisumbing said:

Thanks, Ely. Your photo is great. I can see that I have to improve on my photo-processing.

I note that your PBF also has very little orange rufous on the breast. I wonder why.

Thank you Ramon. The KGB describes the throat as buff becoming orange rufous on breast, paler on flanks. It is really the color of the bird.

[Tateo Osawa]

Beautiful rare bird, nice shot Ramon. Congratulations!

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Tateo. It was good birding with you last week.

[steve pryor]

Ramon,
About the male and the rufous, it is probably age-related. I will try and find information on the appearance of the juveniles (where the sex would not be determinable on gross morphology). In the interim, this may be a subadult/young adult male bird still this side of full expression for the rufous.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Steve.

[des]

Malaysian Blue Flycatchers are very variable in the intensity of the rufous on the breast. Some are near white. It may be genetic variability - maybe it just needs more sunshine

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Des.