African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Other Pics: Female African Paradise Flycatcher

Other Names

  Paradise-Flycatcher   Tchitrec d'Afrique, Moucherolle à poitrine grise, Moucherolle de paradis   Graubrust-Paradiesschnäpper     Afrikansk paradisflugsnappare   Blauwe Paradijsvliegenvanger   Terpsiphone viridis

World: Widely distributed in Africa South of 15° North except for the dry South-West and in lowland forests.

Kenya: Absent from the Arid North-East and along the cost. Elsewhere common.

A common bird of woodland bush and gardens the male Paradise flycatcher comes in two distinct forms. The white morph shown above left and a rufous morph. The female always retains the rufous colouring. Males may change colour from the rufous to the white and may sometimes be seen part way through the change with a mixture of white and rufous feathers. The dark head and blue eye are common to both forms.

The Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher is similar in appearance, but, as the name suggests has a red underside. Around the Kakamega forest the two interbreed.