Camera-Critters #58: White-tailed Robin (白尾鴝), Myiomela leucura

We were out for a trip to a mountain forest called La-La Mountain.  We go to this area almost every year, mainly for the famous peaches that are grown in the farms high up on the mountain. The peach season usually starts from the 1st of June till mid-July.  But we will be away during that period of time this year thus we decided to visit this region today.  It is almost at the mid-point of Northern Cross-Island Highway, about 1500 meters in elevation.  Other than the famous peaches grown in the region, another major attraction is the giant Chamaecyparis formosensis sub-tropical forest.  It consists of over 20 of these trees between 1000 to 3000 years old.  They are a species almost extinct due to logging in the 19th and early 20th century. Although the outside temperature was 32 degree C, it was quite pleasant to walk in the forest with sounds from various birds in our ears.  Even we could hear them we were not be able to see them.  Then this little thing jump into view right in front of us.  Neither of us were really ready to photograph it but we tried out best.

It is a relatively rare bird distributed at the mountainous region of Indochina and Taiwan.  This one is a male of a special Taiwan variety.  It is identified by the crystal blue color of its upper body and white feathers in its black tail.  We are happy that we actually got these two not-too-bad pictures.  In case you are wondering, the peaches are very very delicious this year.

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