Nilgiri blue robin

The Nilgiri blue robin, also known as Nilgiri shortwing, white-bellied shortwing, Nilgiri sholakili or rufous-bellied shortwing is a species of passerine bird in the family Muscicapidae endemic to the Shola forests of the higher hills of southern India, mainly north of the Palghat Gap. This small bird is found on the forest floor and undergrowth of dense forest patches sheltered in the valleys of montane grassland, a restricted and threatened habitat.

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Distribution

Region

Western Ghats, southern India

Typical Environment

Occurs in montane shola forests embedded within grassland mosaics on the Nilgiri and Wayanad plateaus and adjacent high ridges north of the Palghat Gap. It favors dense, moist evergreen thickets in sheltered valleys, ravines, and along shaded stream courses. Habitat is highly patchy, with birds largely confined to continuous shola blocks and their immediate edges. It is typically absent from degraded or open forest and plantations lacking dense understory.

Altitude Range

1200–2400 m

Climate Zone

Highland

Characteristics

Size12–14 cm

Wing Span18–22 cm

Male Weight0.02 kg

Female Weight0.018 kg

Life Expectancy5 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Also called the Nilgiri shortwing or Nilgiri sholakili, this shy understory bird is restricted to shola forest patches in the higher Western Ghats north of the Palghat Gap. It spends most of its time close to the ground, flicking its short tail while gleaning in leaf litter. Its specialized montane habitat is naturally fragmented and threatened by land-use change, making the species a conservation priority.

Gallery

Nilgiri blue robin at Coonoor

Plumage of Sholicola major underside showing the rufous flanks and white belly

Behaviour

Temperament

shy and skulking

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats, low to the ground

Social Behavior

Usually encountered singly or in pairs, maintaining small territories within dense shola undergrowth. Breeding pairs nest low in banks or dense shrubs, building a domed nest hidden in vegetation. They are largely secretive, slipping through cover rather than crossing open spaces.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A rich, musical series of clear whistles and trills delivered from concealed perches, most frequent at dawn. Calls include thin seep notes and soft tacks given from within dense cover.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Nilgiri flowerpecker

The Nilgiri flowerpecker is a tiny bird in the flowerpecker family. Formerly a subspecies of what used to be termed as the plain flowerpecker although that name is now reserved for Dicaeum minullum. Like others of the group, it feeds predominantly on nectar and fruits. They forage within the canopy of forests and are found in India. They are non-migratory and the widespread distribution range includes several populations that are non-overlapping and morphologically distinct, some of which are recognized as full species. They are important pollinators and dispersers of mistletoes in forests.

Nilgiri flycatcher

The Nilgiri flycatcher is an Old World flycatcher with a very restricted range in the hills of southern India. It was formerly referred to as the Nilgiri verditer flycatcher because of its similarity to the verditer flycatcher, a winter migrant to the Nilgiris, which, however, has distinct dark lores and a lighter shade of blue. There are two small white patches at the base of the tail. It is found mainly in the higher altitude shola forests of the Western Ghats and the Nilgiris.

Nilgiri laughingthrush

The Nilgiri laughingthrush is a species of laughingthrush endemic to the high elevation areas of the Nilgiris and adjoining hill ranges in Peninsular India. The mostly rufous underparts, olive brown upperparts, a prominent white eyebrow and a black throat make it unmistakable. It is easily detected by its loud series of nasal call notes and can be hard to spot when it is hidden away inside a patch of dense vegetation. The species has a confusing taxonomic history, leading to a range of names. In the past the species was considered to have two subspecies, the nominate form in the Nilgiris and jerdoni with a grey upper breast and found in the Brahmagiris of Coorg and Banasura range of Wayanad. They are omnivorous, feeding on a range of insects, berries and nectar.

Nilgiri pipit

The Nilgiri pipit is a distinctive species of pipit that is endemic to the high altitude hills of southern India. Richer brown in colour than other pipits in the region, it is distinctive in having the streaking on the breast continuing along the flanks. It is non-migratory and has a tendency to fly into low trees when disturbed and is closely related to the tree pipits Anthus hodgsoni and Anthus trivialis.

Nilgiri wood pigeon

The Nilgiri wood pigeon is a large pigeon found in the moist deciduous forests and sholas of the Western Ghats in southwestern India. They are mainly frugivorous and forage in the canopy of dense hill forests. They are best identified in the field by their large size, dark colours and the distinctive checkerboard pattern on their nape.