About:
Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher (*Terpsiphone affinis*), also known as the Oriental Paradise Flycatcher, is a captivating bird species in the family Monarchidae. Here are some key details:
1. **Appearance**:
– **Males**: Breeding males exhibit strikingly long streamers, which can be almost double the length of their bodies. These streamers trail behind them, adding to their allure. There are two color morphs:
– **Rufous Morph**: These males have a dark head, a weak triangular crest, and a blue eyering.
– **White Morph**: Similar to rufous morph but with white plumage.
– **Females**: Resemble non-breeding rufous males but with a duller blue eyering and slightly paler head.
2. **Distinguishing Features**:
– Blyth’s Paradise-Flycatcher is often confused with the Amur Paradise-Flycatcher and the Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher.
– To differentiate:
– Blyth’s has a glossier black head with a clearer demarcation between the black and gray.
– Female Blyth’s has a much paler gray breast that fades more gradually (unlike the sharper cutoff between gray breast and white belly in the Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher).
3. **Habitat**:
– These flycatchers inhabit evergreen broadleaf forests, forest edges, secondary growth areas, gardens, and plantations.
– They are found in lowlands and foothills.
– Some populations are migratory.
4. **Vocalizations**:
– Their song is a ringing “wiwiwiwiwiwiwi.”
– The call is a nasal, rising “wee-weh.”
5. **Distribution**:
– Blyth’s Paradise-Flycatcher is native from southern China to Sumatra and Melanesia.
– It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Asian Paradise-Flycatcher until elevated to species rank by the IOC in 2015².
Remember, observing these elegant birds in their natural habitat is a delightful experience! 🐦✨ If you ever get a chance, keep an eye out for their mesmerizing streamers and listen to their enchanting calls. 🌿🎶