| IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): | Least Concern
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| Approximate size(adult): | Length about 30–34 cm; weight ~60–80 g. A striking, medium-sized bird with richly colored plumage — males have a crimson belly, black head, and chestnut back, while females are brown above with rufous underparts. Both have long tails with white tips and blue orbital skin.
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| Resident/ Migrate from: | Resident and endemic to the Western Ghats and adjoining hill forests of peninsular India. Non-migratory.
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| Migrate to: | Non-migratory; generally sedentary but may move locally within forested areas.
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| Breeding season: | March to June, coinciding with the pre-monsoon period. Courtship includes soft calls and fluttering displays.
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| Breed in: |
Nests in tree cavities or rotten stumps, often excavated by the pair. The nest chamber is lined sparsely, and 2–4 eggs are laid. Both parents share incubation and chick feeding
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| Habitat: | Found in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, dense wooded valleys, and forest edges up to about 1800 m elevation. Prefers the shaded canopy and mid-storey, often near streams.
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| Diet: |
| Feeds primarily on insects, such as beetles, caterpillars, and termites, and occasionally small fruits. Hunts by sallying from a perch, snapping prey mid-air or picking it from foliage. |
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