Seychelles paradise flycatcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Seychelles paradise flycatcher |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Terpsiphone
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| Species: |
corvina
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The Seychelles paradise flycatcher (also called the Seychelles black paradise-flycatcher) is a beautiful and rare bird. Its scientific name is Terpsiphone corvina. This special bird lives only in the Seychelles islands, especially on La Digue island. It is part of a group of birds called paradise flycatchers.
Male birds are shiny black with very long tail feathers. Female birds are reddish-brown with lighter bellies and do not have long tail feathers. This amazing bird is considered "Vulnerable" by conservation groups. People are working hard to protect it and help its numbers grow.
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What Does the Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher Look Like?
Male Seychelles paradise flycatchers are about 20 centimeters (8 inches) long. They also have two very long black tail feathers that can grow up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) long! Their feathers are a glossy, shiny black with a deep blue shimmer.
Female birds are a bit smaller, usually 16 to 18 centimeters (6 to 7 inches) long, including their tail. Their upper body, wings, and tail are reddish-brown. Their belly and chest are a pale, creamy white color. Both males and females have blue skin around their eyes, a blue beak, and blue legs.
Where Do These Birds Live?
The Seychelles paradise flycatcher lives in the Veuve Nature Reserve on La Digue island in the Seychelles. They prefer to live in thick forests with Calophyllum trees.
Even though there is a special reserve for them, you might also see these birds outside. They sometimes fly into trees or even gardens of people living on the island. There are plans to help these birds live on other islands in the Seychelles too.
How Do They Live and Eat?
The Seychelles paradise flycatcher is an insect eater! It catches insects while flying or picks them from a branch. They also enjoy eating larvae and spiders.
When it's time to build a nest, they create an oval, bowl-shaped home. They build it on branches using small twigs, palm fibers, and even spider webs. Both the male and female birds work together to raise their young. They feed their chicks, mostly with flies, which is how they got the "flycatcher" part of their name!
Why Is This Bird Vulnerable?
The International Union for Conservation of Nature says this bird is "Vulnerable". This means it is at risk of becoming endangered. One big reason is that they need a very specific type of forest to live in.
However, the island of La Digue is changing. More tourists are visiting, and more homes are being built. This means the forests where the birds live are getting smaller and broken up. There are only a few hundred of these birds left.
To help them survive, some birds have been moved to Denis Island. This island is a safer place because it does not have many animals that would hunt the birds. In 2008, 23 birds were moved to Denis Island, and they have successfully had babies there. This gives hope for the future of the Seychelles paradise flycatcher!
