Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus

Beautiful adult male is shimmering sky-blue above and pale below, with orange sides and a small white eyebrow. Female and juvenile are more subdued, but still have the rufous flanks and blue tail. Breeds in mature taiga and montane forests, often favoring mossy, damp areas. Winters in a range of wooded areas, including parks and forest edges. Can be hyperactive, moving quickly across the forest floor, stopping to flick the tail downwards. Feeds on insects and berries in the autumn. Song is a short series of bright, pleasant warbles. Calls include a rising “sweet”, a descending “seet”, and a series of low, dry notes.