Japanese Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone atrocaudata)

The Japanese paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone atrocaudata), alternatively referred to as the black paradise flycatcher, is a medium-sized passerine bird found in southeastern Asia. It is a glossy black, chestnut, and white bird that is somewhat smaller than either the Amur or Blyth's paradise flycatchers. Males possess very lengthy tails. Females have a duller look and shorter tails than males.

Japanese Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone atrocaudata)

It is a migratory species that breeds in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines' far north. Outside of the mating season, it migrates to China, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, as well as to other areas of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore.

The Japanese paradise flycatcher resembles both the Amur and Blyth's paradise flycatchers in appearance, but is significantly smaller. Males in their mature years wear a black hood with a purplish-blue sheen that fades to a blackish-grey color over the chest. The underparts range in color from off-white to white. Dark chestnut is used for the mantle, back, wings, and rump. Immature males' tails have exceptionally lengthy black center feathers. In contrast to the Asian paradise flycatcher, this species does not have a white morph. Females are similar to males, but their chestnut patches are duller and deeper brown. Its legs and feet are black, and it has a big black eye with a blue eye ring and a small blue bill.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

The Japanese paradise flycatcher is mostly migratory and breeds in shaded mature deciduous or evergreen broadleaf forest in southern Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and the Nansei Shoto islands of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan (including Lanyu island), and the far north Philippines. It is a non-breeding visitor to mainland China, the Russian Far East, Hong Kong, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, as well as the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore.