Blue paradise flycatcher

Blue paradise flycatcher
Male
Female
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Monarchidae
Genus:	Terpsiphone
Species:	T. cyanescens
Binomial name
Terpsiphone cyanescens (Sharpe, 1877)
Synonyms
Zeocephus cyanescens

The blue paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone cyanescens) is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae. It is endemic to Palawan. It is mainly found in the understory of lowland primary and secondary forests, ^[2] however populations are likely to be declining owing to habitat loss.

Description

Ebird describes it as "A medium-sized, long-tailed bird of lowland forest understory on Palawan and neighboring islands. Has a blue bill, eye-ring, chest, and head with a slight crest at the back. Back, wings, and tail are blue in the male and rufous in the female. Female is distinctive. Male is similar to Black-naped Monarch, but larger, and lacks the black mark on the back of the head. Song consists of a rapidly pulsating series of fairly high-pitched nasal notes that increase in volume." ^[3]

This species is monotypic and has no subspecies.

Ecology and behavior

It feeds on insects but otherwise not much is known about the specifics of its diet. ^[4] Forages from ground level up to 15 meters high. Only 1 nest has been found in July, 2 meters above ground with a single creamy white egg with brown spotting. No other breeding information is available. ^[4]

Habitat and conservation status

The species inhabits tropical moist lowland primary forest and secondary forest up restricted to the lowlands.

It is assessed as least-concern under the IUCN with populations believed to be decreasing due to habitat loss and deforestation. The whole of Palawan was designated as a Biosphere Reserve; however, protection and enforcement of laws has been difficult and these threats still continue. It occurs in the protected area of Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. ^[5]

References

1. BirdLife International (2016). "Terpsiphone cyanescens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22707161A94109335. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22707161A94109335.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
2. Kennedy, Robert (2000). A guide to the birds of the Philippines. Oxford [u.a.]: Oxford University Press. ISBN   9780198546689.
3. "Blue Paradise-Flycatcher - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
4. Moeliker, Kees (2020). "Blue Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone cyanescens), version 1.0" . Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.blpfly1.01. ISSN   2771-3105.
5. IUCN (2016-10-01). Terpsiphone cyanescens: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22707161A94109335 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t22707161a94109335.en.