Birds in Taiwan

Endemic Species

Collared Bush-Robin

Flamecrest

Formosan Magpie

Formosan Whistling-Thrush

Mikado Pheasant

Steere's Liocichla

Styan's Bulbul

Swinhoe's Pheasant

Taiwan Barwing

Taiwan Bush-Warbler

Taiwan Partridge

Taiwan Yuhina

White-eared Sibia

White-whiskered Laughingthrush

Yellow Tit

Endemic Sub-Species

Alpine Accentor

Black-browed Barbet

Black-naped Monarch

Black Bulbul

Black Drongo

Vivid Niltava

Niltava vivida vivida

Endemic Subspecies

The Vivid Niltava is a medium-sized (16 cm) member of the Old World Flycatcher family, Muscicapidae.  The male is deep purplish blue on the head, back, tail and lesser wing coverts, and bright rufous orange below.  Its throat, face, wings and iris are black as are its legs and bill.  The female is olive-brown overall, lighter below, with a light buffy throat and greyish-brown crown and nape.  As do many members of its family, the Vivid Niltava bears distinct rictal bristles at the base of its bill.  The Taiwan subspecies, vivida, is distinctly smaller than the mainland race oatesi. 

 Vivid Niltavas reside in evergreen and mixed montane forests, in Taiwan generally at elevations of 1,000 to 2,600 m. They tend to perch in an upright stance, and prefer the middle storey and canopy of the forest, where they catch flying insects or forage for small fruits.  Vivid Niltavas are resident year-round in Taiwan, coming to lower elevations in winter and sometimes forming small flocks at fruiting trees.

References:  A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Mackinnon and Phillipps); The Complete Guide to Birds in Taiwan (Jin-yuan Wang); Vivid Niltava  “Endemic subspecies of Taiwan birds—first impressions”, by N. J. Collar, in Birding ASIA, Number 2, December 2004