Indian Paradise Flycatcher

Indian Paradise Flycatcher

                    Introduction of Indian Paradise Flycatcher

        The Indian Paradise Flycatchers (Scientific Name :Terpsiphone paradisi) ,also known as the Common Paradise Flycatchers belongs to the Order – Passeriformes. They are found  naturally in Asia in extremely large range.

                    How to identify Indian Paradise Flycatcher

        Indian Paradise flycatcher is a beautiful bird. Size of adult Indian Paradise flycatcher is between 18 to 22 cm. The length of the tail (adult male) is between 20 to 24 cm, with two central tail feathers growing up to 30 cm long drooping streamers.  Their wings are between 3.4 - 3.6 inches (86 – 92 mm) long.
       Males paradise flycatcher is found  in two morphs or phases, one have a rufous or glossy chestnut upper plumage and another with a white or dirty white plumage. The edges of the wings and tail feathers are sometimes black.Intermediates of both forms also exist. Some birds also molted from rufous into white plumage .

      Head of Indian Paradise flycatcher is glossy black with a glossy black crown and crest. They have short legs and sit very upright whilst perched prominently. The bill is round and sturdy and bluish black in color. Eyes are black, and the eye rings are bluish black.

      Male Indian Paradise flycatcher have long tail feathers. The long, narrow tail is rounded at the tip, except for the two streamers that droop. This central pair of tail feathers growing up to 20 to 30 cm long drooping streamers. The females are only 20 cm long and lack the tail streamers.

Indian Paradise Flycatcher
with White Plumage

        Female are rufous on the back with a greyish throat and underparts, and they have short tail with rufous wings and a black head. Females have greyish throat and underpart, the eyes are black with bright bluish rings around the eyes.

       Young males  lack the two very long central tail feathers, which they acquire in their second or third year.At juvenile stage they look very much like females. Their bodies and wings are rufous and the head, including the throat, is completely black. They have a black throat and blue-ringed eyes.

Indian Paradise Flycatcher
with Rufous Plumage

                      Habit and habitat

       They prefer thick forests and well-wooded habitats. They also found in forest, gardens, shady groves, light deciduous jungle, and bamboo ravines. They are migratory and spend the winter season in tropical Asia.
             Distribution
They found in India, Sri Lanka, and Turkestan to Manchuria and west to the Malay Archipelago where they inhabit the islands of Sumba and Alor. There are resident populations in southern India and Sri Lanka, hence both visiting migrants and the locally breeding subspecies occur in these areas in winter.
               Call
  They are quite noisy birds uttering sharp skreek calls. They also call che-che or che-chew or sharp zweet…zweet….
               Food
     Indian paradise flycatcher is a insectivorous bird. They feed on insects, butterflies and flies. They usually hunt in the understory of densely canopied trees.

              Breeding and Nesting

      Indian Paradise Flycatcher are socially monogamous.Nesting and breeding season is between March to July. They make a cup like nest  by twigs bound together with spider webs and is usually situated on the end of a low tree branch. Both male and female take part in nest-building. Often, the nest is found close to  Drongo nests, which helps to keep predators away from their own nests.

      A clutch usually consists of 3 - 4 eggs, which are  pale creamy pink with reddish brown in color are incubated for about 21 - 23 days. Both parents take part in hatching, brooding and feeding of the young. The incubation period is between 14 to 18 days. Chicks hatch in about 21 to 24 days.