African paradise flycatcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids African paradise flycatcher |
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Terpsiphone
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| Species: |
viridis
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The African paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis) is a beautiful bird found in Africa. It's known for its amazing tail feathers, especially the males! These birds are about the size of a robin, but their tails can be super long.
Males have two very long central tail feathers that look like streamers. They can be more than twice as long as the bird's body! Females have shorter tails without these long streamers.
African paradise flycatchers eat mostly insects. They build a neat, cup-shaped nest and usually lay two or three eggs. You can find them in open forests and savannas across Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. They are quite common, and their population is stable, so they are listed as a "least concern" species by conservation groups.
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What's in a Name?
The African paradise flycatcher was first given a different scientific name, Muscicapa. But over time, scientists decided it belonged to a different group.
This bird has a few other common names too. Some people call it the grey-headed paradise flycatcher, the red-winged paradise-flycatcher, or the Southern paradise-flycatcher.
Different Types of African Paradise Flycatchers
Just like people from different parts of the world might look a little different, there are several types of African paradise flycatchers. Scientists call these "subspecies." They might have slightly different colors or live in specific areas. For example, the Abyssinian paradise-flycatcher and the Swaheli paradise-flycatcher are two well-known subspecies.
What Does It Look Like?
An adult male African paradise flycatcher is about 17 cm (6.7 in) long. But remember, its super long tail streamers can make it seem much longer!
Males have a shiny black head, neck, and belly. Their wings and tail are a rich chestnut or rusty color. They also have a clear white stripe on their wings.
Female birds look similar but are a bit duller. Their bellies might be more brownish, and they don't have the white wing stripe or the long tail streamers. Young birds look a lot like the females but are even less colorful.
Some male African paradise flycatchers have a special look. Instead of chestnut, their wings and tail can be white! Some even have black tail streamers instead of chestnut ones.
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With a butterfly catch
Masai Mara -
female rufous morph, Soysambu Conservancy, Kenya
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female rufous morph, Soysambu Conservancy, Kenya
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Where Does It Live?
The African paradise flycatcher lives in most parts of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. You can also find it in the Arabian Peninsula.
These birds like places with trees, like savannah woodlands and open grasslands with scattered trees. They also live in plantations, open forests, and bushy areas.
How Does It Behave?
The African paradise flycatcher can be a noisy bird! It has a harsh, scolding call.
It has short legs and often sits upright on branches, like a bird called a shrike. It's an insect eater, which means it loves to catch flies right out of the air! It also eats insect eggs, young insects (larvae), and spiders. Sometimes, it even eats berries.
When it's time to have babies, the female builds a cup-shaped nest in a tree. She then lays a clutch of two or three eggs.
