African Paradise-Flycatcher
Terpsiphone viridis
This remarkable flycatcher occurs in both rufous and white morphs, but it always has grayish underparts and a strong crest. The breeding male has ludicrous central tail feathers, twenty centimeters long, that trail like the ribbon of a rhythmic gymnast, while the female lacks the tail streamers and has a smaller crest. Singles and pairs occasionally join flocks in open woodland, riverine forest, and thickets, avoiding lowland evergreen forest. Very vocal, often giving a repeated grating “dzee-zwee” call and a sweet melodic “willie-willie-willie-wee-wooo” song. The very similar Rufous-vented Paradise-Flycatcher differs from African Paradise-Flycatcher by having a rufous undertail and a shorter crest.
识别特征
The adult male African paradise flycatcher is about 17 cm (6.7 in) long, but the very long tail streamers double this. It has a black head, neck and underparts, and chestnut wings and tail. There is a prominent white wingbar. The female has a browner tint to the underparts and lacks the wingbar and tail streamers. Young birds are similar to the female but duller.<p>The males show considerable variation in plumage in some areas. There is a morph of this species in which the male has the chestnut parts of the plumage replaced by white, and some races have black tail streamers.<p>This species readily hybridizes with the genetically similar Rufous-vented paradise flycatcher. The red-bellied paradise flycatcher is also closely related to this species, and hybrids occur with the underparts a mixture of black and red.
分类信息
The African paradise flycatcher was originally described in the genus Muscicapa. Alternate names include the grey-headed paradise flycatcher, red-winged paradise-flycatcher and Southern paradise-flycatcher.<p>Ten subspecies are recognized:
- 学名
- Terpsiphone viridis
- 命名信息
- (Müller, PLS, 1776)
- 目
- Passeriformes
- 科
- Monarchidae
- 属
- Terpsiphone
分布与栖息地
The African paradise flycatcher is found in most parts of Africa south of the Sahara Desert and also the Arabian Peninsula. Its typical habitat is savannah woodland, open grassland with isolated trees, plantations, open woodland and scrubland.
- 迁徙
- Complete migrants
行为
The African paradise flycatcher is a noisy bird with a harsh scolding call. It has short legs and sits very upright whilst perched prominently, like a shrike. It is insectivorous, often hunting by catching flies on the wing, and eating eggs, larvae and adults. It also feeds on spiders and sometimes consumes berries. The cup-shaped nest is built in a tree and a clutch of two or three eggs are laid.
保护状况
- 种群趋势
- stable
照片
分布
鸟叫声
其他鸟类
Prince Ruspoli's Turaco
Menelikornis ruspolii
A spectacular green turaco with a fluffy whitish crest. Shows large crimson wing patches in flight. An Ethiopian endemic that is found very locally in lush woodland and scrub, often in areas with fruiting trees. Acts like a typical turaco, bouncing through the trees and flying occasionally with short bursts of wingbeats and long glides. Calls include a hollow series of “krow” notes and a series of high-pitched, metallic calls. Similar to White-cheeked Turaco, but easily separated by its pale crest and lack of white facial markings.
Yellow-eared Honeyeater
Lichmera flavicans
A small green songbird with a decurved bill, a striking yellow ear patch, a white moustache line, and extensively streaked yellow underparts. Juveniles less well marked below, lacking the yellow ear patch. Singles, pairs, or small groups inhabit forest and forest edge, mainly in foothills, less abundant in lowlands. Differs from Streak-breasted Honeyeater in yellow background coloration to underparts, thin moustachial line, and lack of a white throat. Song includes a variety of melodious, bubbling notes with an oriole-like quality. Call is a short, buzzing “zirt,” repeated frequently.
Sichuan Treecreeper
Certhia tianquanensis
Dull, short-billed treecreeper with a white throat, brown upperparts, and brown-suffused pale underparts. Restricted to mature montane coniferous stands, especially fir. Like other treecreepers, scrambles quickly up trunks and along branches with its tail held flat against the bark. Very similar to Hodgson’s Treecreeper, but Sichuan averages darker on the face and belly, with a different song: a long tinkling series of descending high notes. Call is high-pitched and sputtery, like a sped-up version of the song.
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