Asian Fairy-bluebird - Irena puella

The Asian Fairy-bluebird and the Philippine Fairy Bluebirds are the only members of the genus in the Passeriformes Order. The male Asian Fairy Bluebird is black or dark blue with a bright blue crown down its back to its rump and upper tail-coverts. The female is a dull blue-green or purple.

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Adult

Female 03/25/2012 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA Female 03/25/2012 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA	Male - note grub in his bill 03/25/2012 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA Male - note grub in his bill 03/25/2012 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA	Male 08/24/2012 - National Aviary, Pittsburg, PA Male 08/24/2012 - National Aviary, Pittsburg, PA
Female 08/25/2012 - National Aviary, Pittsburg, PA Female 08/25/2012 - National Aviary, Pittsburg, PA	Male - note its tongue 02/22/2012 - Phoenix Zoo, AZ Male - note its tongue 02/22/2012 - Phoenix Zoo, AZ	Female 02/15/2013 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA Female 02/15/2013 - San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA
Male 04/11/2013 - Moody Gardens, Galveston, TX Male 04/11/2013 - Moody Gardens, Galveston, TX	Female - note the tongue 03/06/2016 - San Antonio Zoo, TX Female - note the tongue 03/06/2016 - San Antonio Zoo, TX	Male 03/06/2016 - San Antonio Zoo, TX Male 03/06/2016 - San Antonio Zoo, TX

Diet: Primarily eats fruit but will also eat nectar and some insects.

Courtship: Breeding is from February to April.

Nesting: The nests are built in small trees and are shaped like a small cup. They are made of moss and twigs. Two-three eggs are laid and like other passerines the chicks are altricial at birth.

Habitat and Range: The Asian Fairy Bluebird lives in flocks and are found in the tops of forest in Indian Subcontinent from the Himalayan foothills to Indochina.

Vocalization: They have a loud contact call and short sharp whistles.

Plumage/Molt: They don't have an alternate plumage.

Migration: Non-migratory.

Tongue/feet: The legs and feet are black.

Bibliography:

• http://en.wikipedia.org The Free Encyclopedia, Accessed June 2012
• http://www.honoluluzoo.org Honolulu Zoo, Accessed June 2012
• http://birdlife.org BirdLife International, Accessed June 2012

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