#monarch

Black-Naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea) father feed a tasty moff to his hungry chicks, family Monarchidae, order Passeriformes, India

the celestial monarch (hypothymis coelestis) is a small passerine bird endemic to the philippines. they prefer lowland forest habitats, with logging being a primary threat to the species & their habitat. they are overall turquoise, with a white belly and a darker indigo chest and neck. females are slightly smaller than males, and have less intense coloration and shorter crests. males are known to raise their crest when agitated or excited, often seen in response to hearing other males’ calls or feeling threatened by a predator. celestial monarchs are members of the ‘monarch flycatcher’ (monarchidae) family and, like others of this family, lead a primarily insectivorous lifestyle. they are social birds often observed in mixed-species flocks including other monarch species as other similarly sized birds.

*tiny* caterpillar