Female black-naped monarch nesting

© komkrit tonusin/Alam

Black-naped monarch

Watch closely; you might catch a glimpse of the black-naped monarch. This bird is part of the monarch flycatcher family, which also includes shrikebills, magpie-larks and paradise flycatchers. Found across tropical southern Asia, from Iran and Sri Lanka to Indonesia and the Philippines, this feathered creature prefers dense forests and other lush, wooded spots. With short legs, it perches upright and spends most of its time catching insects midair.

These birds attach themselves to mixed-species of social gatherers and are often active in the dense understory of the forest canopy. During the breeding season, the female lays two to three eggs in a cosy, cup-shaped nest tucked into a tree fork, as seen in today's image. The nest is woven with filaments of webbing and the Marasmius, a type of mushroom-producing fungus, known for its natural antibiotic properties. This clever design may help shield the young birds from harmful infections, turning the nest into a tiny, self-sustaining sanctuary. And here's a touch—they even decorate it with spider-egg cases.