# Fairy-bluebirds (*Irena*) Fairy-bluebirds are beautiful birds with bright blue feathers. They love to eat fruits and can often be seen flitting around in trees, making them a delightful sight in nature. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Fairy-bluebirds](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Asian_Fairy-bluebird_%28Irena_puella%29_%28cropped%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jason Thompson, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asian_Fairy-bluebird_%28Irena_puella%29_%28cropped%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Fairy-bluebirds has a dazzling appearance, with males sporting brilliant iridescent blue upperparts contrasted with velvety black underparts and flight feathers. Females and juveniles are a duller greenish-blue, making the males distinctly vibrant. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Irenidae - **Genus:** Irena ## Interesting facts - Fairy-bluebirds have flute-like calls that echo through the tropical forest canopy. - Male Fairy-bluebirds flash their vivid blue to impress females and signal their presence. - These beautiful birds can often be seen hanging upside down to reach ripe fruits! - They play a big role in their ecosystem by dispersing seeds from the fruits they eat. ## Special abilities - **Glimmering Camouflage:** Fairy-bluebirds has dazzling blue feathers that shimmer in sunlight, helping them blend or stand out in the dappled forest light. - **Forest Architect:** Fairy-bluebirds can weave cup-shaped nests from fine roots and moss, camouflaging their eggs high in the tree canopy. - **Seed Spreader:** Fairy-bluebirds can eat many types of fruits, digesting the pulp and spreading seeds, helping new plants grow. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 24-27 cm - **Wingspan:** 35-40 cm - **Weight:** 0.05-0.07 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-3 - **Incubation:** 14-16 days ## Diet & Feeding Fairy-bluebirds primarily feast on ripe fruits, but also enjoy a few insects as a tasty snack. - **Primary Foods:** Figs, Berries, Small fruits, Caterpillars, Spiders - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Cluster Fig (*Ficus racemosa*) — A primary fruit source - **Eats:** Rose Apple (*Syzygium jambos*) — Another common fruit in their diet - **Eaten by:** Changeable Hawk-Eagle (*Nisaetus cirrhatus*) — A common forest predator - **Shelter:** Yang-Na Tree (*Dipterocarpus alatus*) — Provides tall canopy for nesting ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to touch or catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Fairy-bluebirds? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Fairy-bluebirds? 24-27 cm ### What is Fairy-bluebirds's wingspan? 35-40 cm ### How much does Fairy-bluebirds weigh? 0.05-0.07 kg ### How long does Fairy-bluebirds live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Fairy-bluebirds move? 60 km/h ### What does Fairy-bluebirds eat? Fairy-bluebirds primarily feast on ripe fruits, but also enjoy a few insects as a tasty snack. ### Where is Fairy-bluebirds usually found? Forests ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Fairy-bluebirds: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fairy-bluebirds)