PhotoFeed Contest - Wildlife Photography Round 138 ~ Flycatcher

Hello Hivers....

This post is my entry for the Cityscape Photography Contest hosted by @photofeed. If you'd like to participate, please read the rules

Among the dense forest trees, a tiny bird with bright blue feathers perched peacefully on a branch. The bird is known as a brushbird, a member of a group of small songbirds quite popular in Asia, including Aceh.

The flycatcher has a small body, averaging 13–16 cm in length. Its plumage color varies depending on the species, but the one pictured here is a male flycatcher, with a predominantly bright blue head, back, and upper chest, and grayish-white belly. This glossy blue color makes it easy to recognize despite its small size.

Its beak is slender and somewhat short, befitting its insectivorous habits. Flycatchers often hunt by snatching prey from the air (flycatcher), hence its name in English, flycatcher.

Flycatchers are widespread in South Asia and Southeast Asia, as well as parts of China and Japan. In Aceh, these birds can be found in mountain forests, conservation areas, and plantations with tree stands. They prefer mid- to mountainous elevations.

Their melodious, clear-toned chirps are quite popular with bird lovers. However, it would be best to allow these birds to live freely in the wild to maintain the balance of the ecosystem.

Besides being beautiful to look at, flycatchers also play an important role in controlling insect populations in forests. With their insectivorous nature, the brush-winged thrush helps maintain ecosystem balance while also benefiting humans by suppressing agricultural pests.

Like many other forest birds, the brush-winged thrush faces threats such as habitat loss due to illegal logging and forest conversion. The wild bird trade is also a factor reducing their wild population. Therefore, forest conservation efforts and a ban on illegal capture are crucial for the survival of these beautiful birds.

The brush-winged thrush is one example of the small beauty of our tropical forests. Its bright blue color is a charm in itself, while its chirping adds to the harmony of nature. Conserving this bird means preserving the beauty and balance of the ecosystem we all enjoy.