Malagasy paradise flycatcher

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Malagasy paradise flycatcher
Madagascar paradise flycatcher white phase.jpg
Male white phase Terpsiphone mutata mutata
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Monarchidae
Genus: Terpsiphone
Species:
T. mutata
Binomial name
Terpsiphone mutata
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Subspecies

See text

Synonyms
  • Muscicapa mutataLinnaeus, 1766

The Malagasy paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone mutata) is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae. It is found in Comoros, Madagascar, and Mayotte. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

In 1760 the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson included a description of the Malagasy paradise flycatcher in his Ornithologie based on a specimen collected in Madagascar. He used the French name Le gobe-mouche a longue queue de Madagascar and the Latin Muscicapa Madagascariensis Longicauda. [2] Although Brisson coined Latin names, these do not conform to the binomial system and are not recognised by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. [3] When in 1766 the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus updated his Systema Naturae for the twelfth edition, he added 240 species that had been previously described by Brisson. [3] One of these was the Malagasy paradise flycatcher. Linnaeus included a brief description, coined the binomial name Muscicapa mutata and cited Brisson's work. [4]

The species remained in the genus Muscicapa with other Old World flycatchers until 1827, when Constantin Wilhelm Lambert Gloger created the genus Terpsiphone for the paradise flycatchers. [5] The genus name Terpsiphone comes from the Greek words terpsi, meaning "delighted in" (from terpo, "to delight") and phone, meaning "voice". [6] The species name, mutata is Latin for "changed" or "different". [7] An alternate common name is the Madagascar paradise flycatcher.

The Malagasy paradise flycatcher is thought to have evolved from African ancestors, as it appears to be more closely related to the African paradise flycatcher than the Indian paradise flycatcher. [8]

Subspecies

There are five subspecies recognized, which differ only slightly in appearance: [9]

Description

Female malagasy paradise flycatcher Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher RWD6.jpg
Female malagasy paradise flycatcher

The Malagasy paradise flycatcher is a medium-sized passerine, measuring 18 cm (7.1 in) in length and weighing between 12.1 and 12.3 g (0.43 and 0.43 oz). Males have long tail plumes, which can add as much as 18 cm (7.1 in) to their overall length. The female is largely rufous-orange, with a black head and nape. The flight feathers on her wings are black with rufous edges, and she has a thin, light blue eyelid wattle. [5]

Range and habitat

This species is a regional endemic found on Madagascar, Mayotte and the Comoros islands. It is common in all native forest types except montane forest, at elevations ranging from sea level to 1,600 m (5,200 ft). [10] It also occurs, though less frequently, in other wooded habitats, including plantations, gardens and secondary forest. [11]

Behavior

Food and feeding

Like all members of its genus, the Malagasy paradise flycatcher is an insectivore, feeding on a variety of insects. [10] It regularly joins mixed-species flocks, particularly those containing common newtonias. It is a "follower" in such flocks, allowing other birds to work as "beaters"; it follows them and hunts down any insect prey they flush. Studies have shown that the paradise flycatcher's foraging efficiency is directly correlated to the number of common newtonia in a flock; a greater number of common newtonias results in a higher foraging efficiency for any accompanying Malagasy paradise flycatchers. When rufous vangas, which generally forage within a meter (yard) or so of the ground, are present in the same mixed-species flocks as Malagasy paradise flycatchers, the latter preferentially follow the vangas, and therefore forage closer to the ground than they normally do. [12]

Breeding

Female Terpsiphone mutata nesting. The small eye ring is not typical of the Madagascar sub-species and this may be one of the Comoro Islands sub-species. Madagascar paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone mutata) nesting female.jpg
Female Terpsiphone mutata nesting. The small eye ring is not typical of the Madagascar sub-species and this may be one of the Comoro Islands sub-species.

The female typically lays a clutch of three eggs measuring 0.72–0.76 inches (18–19 mm) in length and 0.55–0.57 inches(14 mm) in width. These range in color from pinkish-white to salmon-pink, with dense brown or lavender speckling or blotching on the wide end of the egg. [13] This species occasionally serves as host to the Madagascar cuckoo, a brood parasite. [14]

Conservation and threats

The IUCN rates the Malagasy paradise flycatcher as a species of Least Concern. Despite the fact that its numbers appear to be decreasing, the decline is not precipitous, the species is still common on Madagascar and its global range is sizable. [1]

A number of diurnal raptors, including Frances's sparrowhawk, yellow-billed kite and Madagascar harrier-hawk hunt Malagasy paradise flycatchers. [15] In addition, there is at least one record of a common brown lemur eating a nestling Malagasy paradise flycatcher, one of the few records of a wild lemur eating anything other than plant material. [16]

Related Research Articles

Vanga Family of birds

The family Vangidae comprises a group of often shrike-like medium-sized birds distributed from Asia to Africa, including the vangas of Madagascar to which the family owes its name. Many species in this family were previously classified elsewhere in other families. Recent molecular techniques made it possible to assign these species to Vangidae, thereby solving several taxonomic enigmas.

Monarch flycatcher Family of birds

The monarchs comprise a family of over 100 passerine birds which includes shrikebills, paradise flycatchers, and magpie-larks.

African paradise flycatcher Species of bird

The African paradise flycatcher is a medium-sized passerine bird. The two central tail feathers of the male are extended into streamers that commonly are more than twice as long as the body. The female tail feathers are of moderate length and without streamers. The upper parts of the male body, wings, and tail are boldly coloured in chestnut or rusty shades, but the underparts and the head are variably grey to blue-gray, with the head of the mature male being darker, commonly glossy black with greenish highlights. The beak and other bare areas, including a wattle ring round the eye, match the colour of the surrounding feathers. The female coloration is similar, though not so showy and glossy and with the head paler.

Indian paradise flycatcher Species of bird

The Indian paradise flycatcher is a medium-sized passerine bird native to Asia, where it is widely distributed. As the global population is considered stable, it has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2004. It is native to the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia and Myanmar.

Paradise flycatcher Genus of birds

The paradise flycatchers (Terpsiphone) are a genus of birds in the family Monarchidae. The genus ranges across Africa and Asia, as well as a number of islands. A few species are migratory, but the majority are resident. The most telling characteristic of the genus is the long tail streamers of the males of many species. In addition to the long tails the males and females are sexually dimorphic and have rufous, black and white plumage.

This article is one of a series providing information about endemism among birds in the world's various zoogeographic zones. For an overview of this subject see Endemism in birds.

Red fody Species of bird

The red fody, also known as the Madagascar fody in Madagascar, red cardinal fody in Mauritius, or common fody, is a small bird native to Madagascar and introduced to various other islands in the Indian Ocean. It is a common bird within its restricted range, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

Cape batis Species of bird

The Cape batis is a small, stout insect-eating passerine bird in the wattle-eye family. It is endemic to the Afromontane forests of southern Africa.

Humblots flycatcher Species of bird

Humblot's flycatcher or the Grand Comoro flycatcher, is a small passerine bird belonging to the Old World flycatcher family. It is the only member of its genus. Humblot's flycatcher is endemic to the island of Grand Comoro in the Comoros where it inhabits forest on the slopes of Mount Karthala. The scientific name commemorates the French naturalist Léon Humblot.

<i>Muscicapa</i> Genus of birds

Muscicapa is a genus of passerine birds belonging to the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae, and therein to the typical flycatchers of subfamily Muscicapinae. They are widespread across Europe, Africa and Asia with most species occurring in forest and woodland habitats. Several species are migratory, moving south from Europe and northern Asia for the winter.

Blue vanga Species of bird

The blue vanga is a bird species in the family Vangidae. It is in the monotypic genus Cyanolanius. It is found in Comoros, Madagascar, and Mayotte, where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.

Crested drongo Species of bird

The crested drongo is a passerine bird in the family Dicruridae. It is black with a bluish-green sheen, a distinctive crest on the forehead and a forked tail. There are two subspecies; D. f. forficatus is endemic to Madagascar and D. f. potior, which is larger, is found on the Comoro Islands. Its habitat is lowland forests, both dry and humid, and open savannah country. It is a common bird and the IUCN has listed it as "least concern".

Rufous vanga Species of bird

The rufous vanga is a species of bird in the family Vangidae. It is monotypic within the genus Schetba. It is endemic to Madagascar, where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.

Mascarene paradise flycatcher Species of bird

The Mascarene paradise flycatcher is a species of bird in the monarch-flycatcher family Monarchidae. It is endemic to the Mascarene islands of Mauritius and Réunion. There are two subspecies recognized: the nominate subspecies from Réunion, also known as the Réunion paradise flycatcher; and T. b. desolata from Mauritius. The Mascarene paradise flycatcher was originally described in the genus Muscicapa and the subspecies T. b. desolata was originally described as a separate species.

Rufous paradise flycatcher Species of bird

The rufous paradise flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae. It is found in Indonesia and the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Hook-billed vanga Species of bird

The hook-billed vanga is a species of bird in the family Vangidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.

Malagasy white-eye Species of bird

The Malagasy white-eye is a species of bird in the white-eye family, Zosteropidae. Found in the Comoros, Madagascar, Mayotte, and Seychelles, its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

<i>Newtonia</i> (bird) Genus of birds

Newtonia is a genus of passerine birds containing four to five species. They were formerly classified in the Old World warbler family Sylviidae or Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae but have recently been shown to belong to the vanga family Vangidae. They are endemic to Madagascar where they occur in forest or scrubland. They forage in pairs for insects, often joining mixed-species feeding flocks.

Batess paradise flycatcher Species of bird

Bates's paradise flycatcher is a passerine bird belonging to the monarch-flycatcher family, Monarchidae. The sexes are similar in appearance with the upper parts being rufous and the head and underparts being bluish-grey. It is native to central Africa where it is found in the understorey of forests.

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2016). "Terpsiphone mutata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22707126A94107743. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22707126A94107743.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Brisson, Mathurin Jacques (1760). Ornithologie, ou, Méthode contenant la division des oiseaux en ordres, sections, genres, especes & leurs variétés (in French and Latin). Vol. 2. Paris: Jean-Baptiste Bauche. pp. 424–426, Plate 40 fig 1. The two stars (**) at the start of the section indicates that Brisson based his description on the examination of a specimen.
  3. 1 2 Allen, J.A. (1910). "Collation of Brisson's genera of birds with those of Linnaeus". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 28: 317–335. hdl: 2246/678 .
  4. ↑ Linnaeus, Carl (1766). Systema naturae : per regna tria natura, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1, Part 1 (12th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 325.
  5. 1 2 Coates, Dutson & Filardi, p. 293–294.
  6. ↑ Jobling (2010), p. 382.
  7. ↑ Jobling (2010), p. 263.
  8. ↑ Coates, Dutson & Filardi, p. 249.
  9. ↑ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2018). "Monarchs". World Bird List Version 8.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  10. 1 2 Morris, Pete; Hawkins, Frank (1998). Birds of Madagascar: A Photographic Guide. Mountsfield, UK: Pica Press. p. 284. ISBN   978-1-873403-45-7.
  11. ↑ Sinclair, Ian; Langrand, Olivier (2003). Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. p. 138. ISBN   978-1-86872-956-2.
  12. ↑ Yamagishi, Satoshi (2005). Social Organization of the Rufous Vanga: The Ecology of Vangas — Birds Endemic to Madagascar. Sakyo-Ku, Japan: Kyoto University Press. pp. 68–71. ISBN   978-1-920901-04-2.
  13. ↑ Oates, Eugene W. (1903). Catalogue of the Collection of Birds' Eggs in the British Museum, volume 3. London, UK: British Museum (Natural History). p. 281.
  14. ↑ Langrand, Olivier (1990). Guide to the Birds of Madagascar. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. p. 213. ISBN   978-0-300-04310-5.
  15. ↑ Ito, Ryo; Mori, Akira (22 April 2010). "Vigilance against predators induced by eavesdropping on heterospecific alarm calls in a non-vocal lizard Oplurus cuvieri cuvieri (Reptilia: Iguania)". Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 277 (1685): 1275–1280. doi:10.1098/rspb.2009.2047. PMC   2842824 . PMID   20031993.
  16. ↑ Mizuta, T. (2002). "Predation by Eulemur fulvus fulvus on a Nestling of Terpsiphone mutate (Aves: Monarchidae) in Dry Forest in North-Western Madagascar". Folia Primatologica. 73 (4): 217–219. doi:10.1159/000065427. PMID   12399662. S2CID   40253921.

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