About Elminia longicauda (Swainson, 1838)
Species Overview
The African blue flycatcher, with the scientific name Elminia longicauda (Swainson, 1838), is a dainty, pale, bright blue species of flycatcher. It has a short crest and a long tail.
Plumage Characteristics
All of its upperparts and tail are bright blue, shading between blue and cyan. It has black lores and black flight feathers edged with blue. Its underparts are greyish blue, fading to whitish on the belly.
Soft Parts and Juvenile Plumage
The bill and legs are black. Juvenile African blue flycatchers are duller than adults, with faint greyish spotting on the head and wing coverts.
Size Measurements
This species measures 15–18 cm (5.9–7.1 in) in total length and weighs 7–12 g (0.25–0.42 oz).
Geographic Range
The African blue flycatcher has a discontinuous distribution that ranges from Mauritania, Senegal, and Gambia in the west eastwards to Kenya, and south through the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to northern Angola.
Habitat Types
Its natural habitats include moist lowland forests, mangrove forests, gallery forest, montane forests, gardens, wooded farmland, and moist savanna.
