Great Shortwing
Heinrichia calligyna
The Great Shortwing (Heinrichia calligyna) is a legendary chats, old world flycatchers, and alli found only in Indonesia, weighing about 34 g. The great shortwing is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae, and the only member of its genus.
About the Great Shortwing
The great shortwing is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae, and the only member of its genus. Other common names include giant shortwing, Celebes shortwing and Sulawesi shortwing. It is endemic to Sulawesi in Indonesia where its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forests.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The great shortwing is a stocky bird with short rounded wings, growing to a length of about 17.5 cm (7 in). In general size and shape it resembles a European robin (Erithacus rubecula). The male is almost entirely very dark blue apart from a small patch of white at either side of the base of the tail. The female is a similar blue colour but has a white spot in front of the eye and a reddish-brown rump. It has a reddish-brown sheen to the throat and upper breast, and greyish-blue underparts. Both sexes have red irises, black beaks and greyish legs.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: June, July, August, September, October, with peak activity in July. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Great Shortwing?
- The great shortwing is a stocky bird with short rounded wings, growing to a length of about 17.5 cm (7 in). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Great Shortwing?
- The Great Shortwing is a small sized bird weighing about 34 g.
- Where can you see a Great Shortwing?
- The Great Shortwing is endemic to Indonesia, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Great Shortwing?
- The Great Shortwing is most easily confused with the Sumatran Shortwing, the Sharpe's Akalat and the Black Shama.
Learn the Great Shortwing for real
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