Dusky Blue Flycatcher Eumyias sordidus
(Dull Blue Flycatcher)

Sinhalese - Nil Marawa
Tamil       - Vali-marichchan Kuruvi

A sparrow sized endemic flycatcher mostly confined to the hills, where it is commonly seen. It is a plump, full plumaged bird, slaty blue in colour with paler underparts. The forehead is of a glistening bright blue colour. Both sexes look alike but the female is possibly a trifle duller with a smaller forehead patch. Young are much browner heavily spotted on the head, back, wing coverts and breast with buff.

It is common above 1000 metres elevation but birds can be seen lower, down to 600 metres. It loves secluded corners of gardens, streams running through forest, borders of jungle paths and other well wooded areas. It feeds on flying insects sallying forth from low branches and the like in these habitats. It has been reported to feed on small fruits as well. The Dusky Blue Flycatcher has a clear, but rather mournful song of six notes uttered frequently. The bird also has a similar but low sub song which has a ventriloquistic character which is heard as a stronger song coming from a distance whereas the caller is actually close at hand.

The nesting season is from March to May with a secondary season from August to September, at times. The nest is built in a niche in a road cutting, bank or in a shallow cavity in a tree growing in forest. It is rarely more than two metres from ground level.
The nest itself consists of a collection of green moss and dead leaves with a neat, deep cup in the centre lined with fine moss and fern rootlets. Nests are often discovered while passing along road cuttings, when the bird flies away when approached too close. Two eggs form the usual clutch. They are glossy, broad ovals, pinkish in ground colour lightly speckled with pale reddish brown especially at the larger end.