African Paradise Flycatcher

The African Paradise Flycatcher is a striking, medium-sized songbird prized by birdwatchers for its bold coloring and, in males, spectacularly long tail streamers. It is a common and widespread bird of wooded habitats across much of sub-Saharan Africa.

Appearance

• Glossy blue-black head with a short crest and a distinctive blue, wattle-like eye-ring and bill
• Rich chestnut back, wings, and tail
• Underparts vary from pale grey to white depending on region
• Adult males have greatly elongated central tail feathers; some populations also show a striking white morph with largely white wings and tail
• Females and immatures have shorter tails and duller coloring but share the blue eye-ring and bill

Key field marks

• Glossy black head, blue bill and eye-ring, and chestnut body are distinctive at any age
• Adult males with long ribbon-like tail streamers are unmistakable
• Active, restless flycatching behavior in the mid- to upper canopy

Similar species

• Female and juvenile birds lacking tail streamers can be confused with other flycatchers, but the combination of a black crested head and blue eye-ring/bill is diagnostic
• White-morph males can superficially resemble other pale birds in flight but the black head and blue bill remain visible
• Told from robin-chats and other chestnut-colored birds by its crested black head and active aerial feeding style

Range

Widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, from West Africa through the Congo Basin, East Africa, and south to South Africa.

Habitat

Found in forest, riverine woodland, coastal bush, and shady gardens with tall trees; generally avoids open treeless country.

Migration

Many southern African populations are intra-African breeding migrants, arriving in spring (around September) and departing after breeding, while equatorial populations tend to be resident.

Voice

A cheerful, scratchy warbling song and a sharp "zwit" or "tsee-tsee" contact call; both sexes are quite vocal within their territory.

Feeding

An active aerial feeder, sallying from a perch to snatch flying insects and sometimes gleaning prey from foliage while hovering.

Nesting and breeding

Builds a small, neat cup nest of plant fibers and spider web, often on a low horizontal branch; both sexes share incubation and chick-rearing duties.