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Asian Paradise flycatcher

by chukkimane, 12/05/2014

Asian Paradise Flycatcher

The Asian Paradise-flycatcher breeds from Turkestan to Manchuria. It is migratory, wintering in tropical Asia. The adult male Asian Paradise-flycatcher is about 20 cm long, but the long tail streamers double this. It has a black crested head, chestnut upperparts and pale grey underparts. The female of all races resembles the chestnut male, but has a grey throat, smaller crest and lacks the tail streamers.The Asian Paradise-flycatcher is a noisy bird with a sharp zweet call. It has short legs and sits very upright whilst perched prominently, like a shrike. It is insectivorous, often hunting by flycatching.

Shape & size
The adult Asian Paradise Flycatcher measures about 7.5 – 8.7 inches (19 – 22 cm) in length, not including the long tail, which can grow to 9.4 inches (24 cm) in length, and the male’s two central, elongated tail streamers up to 12 inches (30 cm). Their wings are between 3.4 – 3.6 inches (86 – 92 mm) long.
Their legs are relatively short, and they tend to sit very upright when perched, similar to shrikes.

Habitat
The paradise flycatchers inhabit a range of habitat types, from rainforest to montane forest, woodlands, savanna, mangroves, riparian forest, deciduous forests and bamboo groves, some species will also move into gardens and cultivated habitat.

Food
Asian Paradise Flycatchers mostly feed on insects captured in the air. They usually hunt in the understory of densely canopied trees.

Nesting
The Asian Paradise Flycatcher mostly breed from May to July. These birds are monogamous and both share the duties of constructing the nest, incubating the eggs, and feeding and protecting the young.
A clutch usually consists of 3 – 4 eggs, which are incubated for about 21 – 23 days.
The cup nest is made out of twigs bound together with spider webs and is usually situated on the end of a low tree branch. Often, the nest is found close to active drongo nests, which helps to keep predators away from their own nests.

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