Asian fairy-bluebird (Irena puella)

Irena puella or Asian Fairy-bluebird is an arboreal species, always active amongst vegetation. This species can be found in the lowland and hill forest up to 1,400 m in the upper and middle storey. The Asian Fairy-bluebirds are frugivores with figs being their favourite fruit and they also like to consume flower nectars as well. As young birds, they are fed insects by their parents.
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The male of Asian Fairy-bluebirds is covered by the blue and black plumage. On its upperparts, central crown and nape, back, rump, upper tail-coverts and narrow wing-bar are brilliant blue. It’s flight feathers and rectrices are black. Although the plumage may appear fairly dull in the shade, when the sun lights up the male’s back, the sapphire-blue feathers are very conspicuous. The female has a plain dark turquoise-blue with dark flight feathers which are different from the male. Both male and female have a black strong bill and legs while the eyes are bright red.

Name: Asian Fairy-bluebird
Scientific: Irena puella
Malay: Murai Gajah / Dendang Gajah
Family: Irenidae
IUCN Red List (v3.1, 2016): Near Threatened
Gear: SONY a9II + SEL200600G + SEL14TC.
​Location: Ampang, Selangor

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