The Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush

The Sri Lanka whistling thrush or Arenga is from the old world flycatcher family Muscicapidae and is one of the nine whistling thrush species from the myophonus genus. Its scientific name is Myophonus blighi. Although its name and appearance implies that it is a thrush, recent studies show that it’s more closely related to the old world flycatcher family. It is also an endangered member of the 27 endemic birds of Sri Lanka and ever since it was discovered it has been notoriously difficult to observe therefore it has earned the reputation of being the rarest of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka. Edward Blyth who was a well renowned English ornithologist predicted the existence of a whistling thrush species in Sri Lanka and a year later his prediction came to pass when another ornithologist by the name of Bligh collected a speciman by the banks of the Lemasthota oya in Haputale and identified it as a whistling thrush species, later in 1872 a scientist by the name of Edmund William Holdsworth described the whistling thrush species found by Bligh as a new species and named it after its founder as Blighi’s whistling thrush, although this name isn’t used at present its scientific name (Myophonus Blighi) still holds the name of its founder.

DESCRIPTION

Both the male and female of the Sri Lanka whistling thrush have contrasting characteristics. The male is black with a metallic blue sheen mainly around the forehead, breast, shoulders and the area above the eye, the female on the other hand is drab and plain compared to the male, it has a darker more brownish colour above while the underparts are lighter more chestnut in colouration. Both male and female birds have a vibrant blue patch around the shoulders. The male’s blue colouration, strongly reflects UV light therefore when seen during the day its colour is absolutely dazzling. Unfortunately this phenomenon is extremely rare as the bird prefers to stay away from sunlight.

BEHAVIOUR

The bird is active during twilight hours (dawn and dusk), this is one of the main reasons this bird is so elusive. They are vocal birds which have a high pitched whistle like call and are more often heard than seen. The male is more vocal than the female and is usually seen vocalizing on a perch close to the water’s edge. The bird’s diet consists of frogs, lizards, geckoes and other small insects and reptiles. The Sri Lanka whistling thrush mates for life and has only one breeding season per year in February. The female lays 2-3 small eggs in a nest made of ferns and decaying plant matter which will be used multiple times by that bird.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

They live in mountainous regions above an elevation of 680m close to flowing streams, ponds or other water bodies in thick forested habitat, Therefore water pollution and deforestation directly affect this species. Horton Plains, Adam’s Peak and the knuckles reserve are some of the last remaining habitats of the Sri Lanka whistling thrush.