Rare bird sighted at Achenkovil

KOLLAM,  
The Hindu, February 1, 2016

A black-and-orange flycatcher (Ficedula nigrorufa), which is a high altitude endemic resident of the central and southern evergreen forest areas of the Western Ghats, was chanced upon by wildlife photographer Mahesh Ambelil in the low altitude Achenkovil forest area which has an altitude of only 400 m ASL.

The bird is usually seen in forest areas at heights above 1,500 m ASL.

Mr. Ambelil claims that it is the first recorded sighting of this high altitude dweller at such a low altitude forest. The bird is largely sighted along the Nilgiris and Palani Hills, Biligirirangans (Bellaji and Honnametti) and Kanan Devan Hills.

They feed on insects by fly-catching low over the ground and also pick insects from the ground. Territories are maintained by a pair throughout the year.

The male is distinctly black headed with black wings. The female has the black replaced by dark brown and has a light eye-ring. Mr. Mahesh resides at Pattathanam in Kollam city.