I have been observing a pair of Asian Paradise Flycatchers ( Terpsiphone paradisi) in Jaipur over the past three weeks. These birds are summer breeding visitors.
Now we are all quite familiar with the usual plumages of this species as the male birds get older. Sub-adult males have long rufous streamers, and in mature males the streamers turn all white (intermediate plumages occur).
Females do not have the long tail streamers, and the upperparts are rufous (amongst other differences).
Of course, there are several sub-species distributed through Asia, and even within India there are some differences between sub-species.
As far as I know, and after having spoken to several birders, and having looked at various birding websites, I haven't come across this particular plumage of male before ...
I am still trying to get a better image but without success because the pair is quite shy, so my apologies for the quality of the photograph.
Quite clearly this is a male - and he doesn't have any tail streamers.
Close examination through the bins suggests that the tail (as is) doesn't appear to have the streamers broken off, and the bird is quite normal in all respects.
I have observed him together with the female. The pair were chasing each other through the trees, and both birds were calling continuously. Haven't been able to locate the nest as yet.
Do let me know what you think at sahdevsingh2004@yahoo.co.in
The closest match seems to be that of the sub-species found in Borneo (!) - here the males moult directly into white plumage and do not have the long tail streamers ??
Now we are all quite familiar with the usual plumages of this species as the male birds get older. Sub-adult males have long rufous streamers, and in mature males the streamers turn all white (intermediate plumages occur).
Females do not have the long tail streamers, and the upperparts are rufous (amongst other differences).
Of course, there are several sub-species distributed through Asia, and even within India there are some differences between sub-species.
As far as I know, and after having spoken to several birders, and having looked at various birding websites, I haven't come across this particular plumage of male before ...
I am still trying to get a better image but without success because the pair is quite shy, so my apologies for the quality of the photograph.
Quite clearly this is a male - and he doesn't have any tail streamers.
Close examination through the bins suggests that the tail (as is) doesn't appear to have the streamers broken off, and the bird is quite normal in all respects.
I have observed him together with the female. The pair were chasing each other through the trees, and both birds were calling continuously. Haven't been able to locate the nest as yet.
Do let me know what you think at sahdevsingh2004@yahoo.co.in
The closest match seems to be that of the sub-species found in Borneo (!) - here the males moult directly into white plumage and do not have the long tail streamers ??
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