Black Paradise Flycatcher

Overview

The black paradise flycatcher, also known as the Japanese paradise flycatcher, is a medium-sized passerine bird native to southeastern Asia. It is a glossy black, chestnut and white species that is slightly smaller than its close relatives, the Amur and Blyth's paradise flycatchers.

Identification

• Mature males possess a black hood with a purplish-blue gloss, off-white underparts, and dark chestnut wings, back, and rump.
• Males feature extremely long black central tail feathers, whereas females are duller and darker brown with shorter tails.
• The bird has a large black eye with a blue eye-ring, a short blue bill, and black legs and feet.
• The song is described in Japanese as tsuki-hi-hoshi, hoi-hoi-hoi.

Habitat

This migratory species breeds in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the far north of the Philippines. Outside the breeding season, it migrates to China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, other parts of the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Sumatra, Indonesia.

Did you know?

The bird's Japanese name, sankōchō, literally translates to 'bird of three lights' because its song is rendered as tsuki-hi-hoshi (moon, sun, stars).