Red-bellied paradise flycatcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red-bellied paradise flycatcher |
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Terpsiphone
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rufiventer
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The red-bellied paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone rufiventer) is a beautiful bird found in the warm, wet forests of Africa. It's also sometimes called the black-headed paradise flycatcher. This bird is part of the monarch flycatcher family.
Male birds are about 17 cm (6.7 in) long. They have a black head and a body that is mostly chestnut (reddish-brown). Their tails have long streamers that can be almost twice as long as their body! The colors can change a bit depending on where the bird lives.
Female birds and young birds do not have these long tail streamers. They are also a duller brown color. This bird is closely related to the African paradise flycatcher. Sometimes, these two types of birds can even have babies together.
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About the Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher
The name "red-bellied paradise flycatcher" can also be used for another bird called Bedford's paradise flycatcher. This can sometimes be a bit confusing!
Different Types of Red-bellied Paradise Flycatchers
There are ten different kinds, or subspecies, of the red-bellied paradise flycatcher. They are found in different parts of Africa:
- T. r. rufiventer - Found in Senegal, Gambia, and western Guinea.
- T. r. nigriceps - Found from Sierra Leone and Guinea to Togo and south-western Benin.
- Fagan's paradise-flycatcher (T. r. fagani) - Found in Benin and south-western Nigeria.
- Ashy-tailed paradise-flycatcher (T. r. tricolor) - Found on Bioko island.
- Cameroon ashy-tailed paradise-flycatcher (T. r. neumanni) - Found from south-eastern Nigeria to northern Angola.
- T. r. schubotzi - Found in south-eastern Cameroon and south-western Central African Republic.
- T. r. mayombe - Found in Congo and western Democratic Republic of Congo.
- T. r. somereni - Found in western and southern Uganda.
- Uganda black-headed paradise-flycatcher (T. r. emini) - Found in south-eastern Uganda, western Kenya, and north-western Tanzania.
- Fiery paradise-flycatcher (T. r. ignea) - Found in eastern Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, north-eastern Angola, and north-western Zambia.
Before 2009, the Annobón paradise flycatcher was thought to be a type of red-bellied paradise flycatcher. But now, scientists know it's its own separate species.
What Does the Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher Look Like?
The adult male of this bird is about 17 cm (6.7 in) long. But remember, its long tail streamers can make it seem almost twice as long! It has a black head and a chestnut (reddish-brown) body. It also has a clear black stripe on its wings.
The female bird is not as brightly colored as the male. She also does not have the long tail streamers. Young birds are a plain brown color.
Some male red-bellied paradise flycatchers can look very different in certain areas. For example, some males have white feathers instead of chestnut ones. Some also have black tail streamers.
This bird is quite noisy and makes a sharp zweet sound. It has short legs and likes to sit upright on branches, much like a shrike bird.
What Do They Eat and Where Do They Live?
The red-bellied paradise flycatcher loves to eat insects. It often catches them while flying, which is why it's called a "flycatcher"!
This bird is very common in the tropical parts of western Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. You can usually find it in thick forests and other places with lots of trees.
When it's time to have babies, the female bird lays two eggs in a tiny, cup-shaped nest built in a tree.
