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The Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis), also known as the Sri Lanka Paradise Flycatcher is a subspecies of the Indian paradise flycatcher. It is a resident subspecies and remains in Sri Lanka throughout the year, its typical habitat being the understory of dry lowland forest. It also occurs in gardens and dry hilly areas, and moves to other parts of the island outside the breeding season. The birds have black heads and chestnut upper parts, and the male has a black crest, and a much longer tail than the female.
The Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher flits about in the lower parts of woodland, feeding on insects which it catches in flight. It breeds between April and July, the cup-shaped nest being built of fine grasses and rootlets, bound together with spider's web, a few metres off the ground. Two or three reddish-brown speckled eggs are laid.
Distribution and habitat The Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher is found in Sri Lanka as a resident species. It flits about in wooded habitats and gardens. Mostly seen in the low country dry zone during the breeding season. Also seen in the dry lower hills. It visits other areas in the migrant season (northern winter).
Taxonomy The Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher is the resident subspecies out of the two subspecies of Indian paradise flycatcher found in Sri Lanka. The taxon was formerly described by Nikolai Alekseyvich Zarudny & Hermann Härms in 1912.
Description Adults are about 20 cm long. Shows sexual dimorphism. Adult male has a glossy black head with a black crest. The back, wings and the tail feathers are rufous in colour. Adult male is distinguished by the long tail feathers that are longer than the body. The tail is about 30 cm long.
The female also has a black head. They are rufous on the back, wings and tail with a greyish throat and underparts. They have short tails. Immature males look very much like females.
The call, uttered often is a harsh tchree, and the song, uttered occasionally, is a musical twee-tee-twee-tyu.
Ecology and behaviour Visits woods and flits about branches of small trees and bushes below the level of the taller trees in search of food during the daytime. Often flashes its tail as it actively takes insects on the wing. It habitually jump into a small puddle and take a bath in the evening.
Feeding
The Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher is insectivorous. It catches insects while in flight in the understory.
I must put a few more pictures even though the quality leave a lot to wish for. We were leaving Yala National Park. I saw a Malabar Hornbill flying over the road in front of us and the bird landed in a tree next to the road. We had several jeeps coming in our direction and they only passed, they were looking for leopards so never mind the other beautiful animals in the park.
I found it very strange that no one stopped to have a look. Anyway, we stopped to look and we could only see the bill sticking up behind the berry filled tree. The Malabar Hornbill was munching on the yellow berries and the Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher was most likely having a nest nearby.
A fantastic show that they missed in the passing jeeps. Leopards was the only thing they wanted to see and they return home disappointed. 1 or 2 days here and if they don't see any leopards they go back home with nothing.
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher attacking a Malabar Hornbill
Yala National Park, Sri Lanka - May 2017
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher attacking a Malabar Hornbill
Yala National Park, Sri Lanka - May 2017
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher attacking a Malabar Hornbill
Yala National Park, Sri Lanka - May 2017
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher attacking a Malabar Hornbill
Yala National Park, Sri Lanka - May 2017
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher attacking a Malabar Hornbill
Yala National Park, Sri Lanka - May 2017
Breeding
Breeding season is from April to July. They breed in the dry lowlands and the lower hills. Build nests on a tree about 2–4 m or higher from the ground. The nest is made up of small grass, fibers connected by spider's web threads in the shape of a cup.
They lay clutches of 2-3 eggs. The eggs are reddish brown with spots (More spots on the obtuse side).
No sound or range map from the Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher. But as the Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher is a subspecies of the Indian paradise flycatcher sound and Range map from www.oiseaux.net is available if you read more about the Indian paradise flycatcherHERE
Sighted: (Date of first photo that I could use)
16th of May 2017 Location: Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher - Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis 16 May 2017 - Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher - Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis 16 May 2017 - Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher - Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis 16 May 2017 - Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher - Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis 16 May 2017 - Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher - Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis 18 May 2017 - Yala National Park
Female Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher sitting on her egg
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher's nest ceylonensis 18 May 2017 - Yala National Park
The nest is empty, the female left and the male is coming to take over sitting on the eggs
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher - Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis 18 May 2017 - Yala National Park
Male Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher coming to take over the egg sitting while the female go look for food
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher - Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis 18 May 2017 - Yala National Park
Male Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher sitting on the eggs
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher - Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis 18 May 2017 - Yala National Park
Male Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher sitting on the eggs
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher - Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis 18 May 2017 - Yala National Park
Male Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher sitting on the eggs
How to see the difference between the male and female? The male have a long tail and a little crest
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher - Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis - 22 May 2017 - Yala National Park
Male Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher sitting on the eggs
I lost all the pictures from my computer. The only reason I have the above picture remaining is that I sent it to my friend via e-mail. So I had to go back the day after to get more pictures. Luckily enough we found the nest again.
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher - Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis 22 May 2017 - Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
Male Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher sitting on the eggs
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher - Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis 22 May 2017 - Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
Male Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher sitting on the eggs
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher - Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis 22 May 2017 - Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
Male Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher sitting on the eggs
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher - Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis 22 May 2017 - Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
Female Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher sitting on the eggs
Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher - Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis 22 May 2017 - Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
Female Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher sitting on the eggs
PLEASE! If I have made any mistakes identifying any bird, PLEASE let me know on my guestbook