Rufous-breasted blue flycatcher

Rufous-breasted blue flycatcher
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Muscicapidae
Genus:	Cyornis
Species:	C. camarinensis
Binomial name
Cyornis camarinensis (Rand & Rabor, 1967)

The rufous-breasted blue flycatcher (Cyornis camarinensis) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found on the Bicol Peninsula and Catanduanes. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the blue-breasted blue flycatcher (Cyornis herioti). It is one of the most mysterious and least observed species with no known photos of any living bird.

Description and taxonomy

EBird describes it as "An attractive flycatcher of forest understory from the lowlands to low mountains of southern Luzon and Catanduanes. Male has deep blue upperparts and sides to the chest, pale orange breast and throat, blackish face, and a white belly. Female has a brown back, white belly, rufous forehead, wings and tail, a grayish-brown head, and an orange throat. An inconspicuous and poorly-known species. Males is similar to Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher, but lacks the black chin of male and white face of the female. Song is a high-pitched, shrill “tsiiiiiiiii!” followed by a variety of lower notes."

It was formerly conspecific with the Blue-breasted blue flycatcher from North Luzon. It was split as a separate species based on the male's eponymous rufous breast. As this is an extremely rare bird and there are barely and specimens, the differences between the two species' females are poorly understood.

Ecology and behaviour

This species is poorly known. Stomach contents from specimens taken contained insects. This species forages close to the forest floor in the dense understorey. It is extremely unobstrusive and is usually alone or in a pair.

Nothing is known about its breeding habits except that two males collected in April and May were in breeding condition and had enlarged testes. An immature male was also collected in late June.

Habitat and conservation status

Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It is seen on the undergrowth of primary forests or along forest edge. IUCN estimates just 2,500- 9,999 mature individuals remaining with populations believe to be declining due to ongoing habitat destruction.

It is found in the protected areas in Bulusan Volcano Natural Park and Mount Isarog but actual protection from deforestation is lax.

Conservation actions proposed are to map out this species' true distribution and to better learn about its ecology.