Hainan blue flycatcher Cyornis h. hainanus (Ogilvie-Grant, 1900): sighting in India from Arunachal Pradesh

A recent bird survey in Jairampur, Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh, conducted as part of an ongoing study on community composition and diversity of avian species in the region, has led to the sighting of the Hainan blue flycatcher (Cyornis h.hainanus) in India.This small passerine bird (13-14 cm) is a member of the Muscicapidae family (Old World flycatchers and chats).Through detailed phenotypic analysis and comparison with existing species descriptions, the bird was confirmed as C. h.hainanus based on key identification markers viz. absence of rufous underparts and the presence of a distinctive white patch on the throat.Previously, the known distribution of C. h.hainanus was confined to eastern Myanmar, southern China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.This new sighting extends the species' range westwards and adds a notable entry to India's avifauna, particularly within the flycatcher family.Alongside other recent findings, the present sighting highlights the immense scope for avian research and avitourism in Arunachal Pradesh.