Sri Lanka Whistling-Thrush

Short-tailed, thrushlike flycatcher. Male mostly dark blue, with bright blue shoulder, and dark bill. Female all rufous, with blue shoulder patch. Very secretive bird of the shady understory and ground, inside gullies within montane forest. Dark male resembles larger Indian Blackbird, although Whistling-Thrush is dark-billed, with a shorter tail. Female similar to other nondescript, brown songbirds, but uniform rufous coloration and blue shoulder patch identifies it from all others. Voice includes a high-pitched “sreee” and “si” notes, as well as a complex, rapid twittering song comprised of varied pitch, whistled notes.

The Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush is a secretive, ground-dwelling bird found only in dense mountain forests above 2900 ft. (900 m) in Sri Lanka. It prefers habitat close to streams, especially those in ravines and gorges. They build nests on rock ledges and in the forks of trees near waterfalls and fast moving water

Mainly insects, but also snails, small reptiles (including geckos and lizards such as Ceratophora or Calotes) and amphibians; bones of a tree-frog, probably Polypedates, found in stomach. Forages on ground, commonly at margins of water. Extremely shy and elusive; can sit immobile for long periods.