The pale-blue monarch is a small passerine bird in the family Monarchidae endemic to eastern Indonesia.
Region
Sulawesi and adjacent islands (Wallacea)
Typical Environment
Occurs in primary and secondary lowland to hill evergreen forest, including forest edges and riverine corridors. It tolerates selectively logged forest and well-wooded gardens near intact habitat but is most frequent in interior forest. Birds forage from the understory to mid-canopy, using perches within shaded woodland. Local presence depends on forest cover and connectivity.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The pale-blue monarch is a small flycatcher of lowland forests, noted for the male’s powder-blue plumage. It was formerly treated as conspecific with the black-naped monarch but lacks the male’s black nuchal band. It often joins mixed-species flocks and actively hawks insects from midstory perches.
Pale-blue monarch (Hypothymis puella) from Tangkoko, Sulawesi
Temperament
active and agile
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with frequent sallies
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or family groups, and commonly joins mixed-species flocks. Builds a small, neat cup nest suspended from a horizontal fork, often over a stream or open understory gap. Both parents typically participate in incubation and feeding.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of thin, high-pitched whistles and trills delivered from shaded perches. Calls include sharp chips and soft contact notes when moving with mixed flocks.
Plumage
Male is uniformly pale powder-blue above with paler bluish to whitish underparts and a fine dark loral line; lacks the black nape crescent of similar species. Female is duller blue-gray with browner wings and grayer underparts. Both sexes have a neat, compact flycatcher build with a slightly crested crown effect when alert.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small insects such as flies, beetles, moths, and caterpillars, and will also take spiders. Captures prey by sallying from exposed perches and by hover-gleaning among foliage. Frequently forages methodically along midstory branches, returning to favored perches.
Preferred Environment
Forages in shaded understory and mid-canopy of humid forest interiors, along edges, and above streams. Also uses semi-open secondary growth when near intact forest.
