Blue-naped Mousebird

The blue-naped mousebird is a fairly small to medium-sized bird, measuring 33–38 cm (13–15 in) in length including the elongated tail of 20–28 cm (7.9–11.0 in), weighing 34–65 g (1.2–2.3 oz). Adults have an ash grey plumage which is darker at top and lighter at bottom. Has a bright turquoise-blue patch on nape and hindneck, long crest, slender and steeply graduated tail, females shorter than males. Both sexes are brown-tinged ash-grey above, greyish-buff below; bare skin on lores and around eyes crimson-red; most of upper mandible crimson-red, rest of bill black; feet purplish red. Voice: Solitary birds perched atop trees emit a distinct and resonant "tieee" whistle every 3–5 seconds. While foraging, it produces a shorter and less robust version of the same call, spaced at longer intervals of 10–15 seconds. In groups, a pre-flight ritual includes a collective "trie-trie" before departing the feeding area, or a rhythmic "tsie-tsie..." every 0.5 seconds just prior to takeoff.