Blue Whistling Thrush

The blue whistling thrush is the largest species of the Old World flycatcher family, 29–35 cm long and 136–231 g across subspecies, found in the mountains of Central Asia, South Asia, China and Southeast Asia. It is dark violet-blue with shiny pale blue to white spangling on the tips of the body feathers, other than on the lores, abdomen and under the tail, and the inner webs of the flight and tail feathers are black. Six subspecies are accepted (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is known for its loud, human-like whistling song at dawn and dusk. Like others in its genus it feeds on the ground, often along streams and in damp places, foraging for snails, crabs, insects and fruit, turning over leaves and small stones and cocking its head to check for prey. The widespread subspecies temminckii is found in the mountains of Central Asia and along the Himalaya east to northern Burma, and makes altitudinal movements, descending in winter. The usual clutch is three or four eggs (Wikipedia, general species account).