- Ceylon Paradise-flycatcher
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Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Monarchidae Genus: Terpsiphone Species: T. paradisi Subspecies: T. p. paradisi Trinomial name Terpsiphone paradisi paradisi
Zarudny & Härms, 1912[1]The Ceylon Paradise-flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis), also known as Sri Lanka Paradise-flycatcher is the resident subspecies out of the two subspecies of Asian Paradise-flycatcher found in Sri Lanka.[2]
Contents
Taxonomy
The taxon was formerly described by Nikolai Alekseyvich Zarudny & Hermann Härms in 1912.[1]
Description
Adults are about 20 cm long.[3] Shows sexual dimorphism.[2] Adult male has a glossy black head with a black crest. The back, wings and the tail feathers are rufous in colour.[2] Adult male is distinguished by the long tail feathers that are longer than the body. The tail is about 30 cm long.[3] The female also has a black head. They are rufous on the back, wings and tail with a greyish throat and underparts. They have short tails. Immature males look very much like females.[2]
The call, uttered often is a harsh tchree, and the song, uttered occasionally, is a musical twee-tee-twee-tyu.[3]
Distribution and habitat
The Ceylon Paradise-flycatcher is found in Sri Lanka as a resident species. It flits about in wooded habitats and gardens.[2] Mostly seen in the low country dry zone during the breeding season. Also seen in the dry lower hills. It visits other areas in the migrant season (northern winter).[3]
Ecology and behaviour
Visits woods and flits about branches of small trees and bushes below the level of the taller trees in search of food during the daytime. Often flashes its tail as it actively takes insects on the wing.[3] It habitually jump into a small puddle and take a bath in the evening.[2]
Feeding
The Ceylon Paradise-flycatcher is insectivorous.It catches insects while in flight in the understory.
Breeding
Breeding season is from April to July.[2] They breed in the dry lowlands and the lower hills. Build nests on a tree about 2–4 m or higher from the ground. The nest is made up of small grass, fibers connected by spider's web threads in the shape of a cup. They lay clutches of 2-3 eggs. The eggs are reddish brown with spots (More spots on the obtuse side).[2]
See also
- Asian Paradise-flycatcher
- Paradise-flycatcher
- Flycatcher
References
- ^ a b "Avibase - The world bird database". http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?lang=EN&avibaseid=000E6570DE48537E. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Manjula Vijesundara (2007) (in Sinhala). Sinhala Kurulu Vishvakoshaya (Sinhala Bird Encyclopaedia) - Part 2 (1st ed.). Suriya Publishers. p. 216,217. ISBN 955-656-029-7.
- ^ a b c d e Gehan de Silva Wijeratne; Deepal Warakagoda & T.S.U. de Zylva (2007). "Species description". A Photographic Guide to Birds of Sri Lanka. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. p. 120. ISBN 978 1 85974 511 3.
Categories:- Birds of Asia
- Birds of Sri Lanka
- Terpsiphone
- Bird stubs
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