African paradise flycatcher

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.

Distribution

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Typical Environment

Occurs widely in woodlands, riparian forests, savannas with scattered trees, forest edges, and well-vegetated gardens. It favors shaded habitats with ample perches for aerial sallies and tends to follow riverine thickets during the dry season. In some regions it moves locally in response to rainfall and insect abundance. It coexists with humans where mature trees remain.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2400 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size17–20 cm (body; males up to 35–40 cm including tail streamers)

Wing Span25–30 cm

Male Weight0.015 kg

Female Weight0.014 kg

Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Males are famous for their elongated central tail streamers that can be more than twice the body length, especially in the breeding season. Plumage varies across subspecies, but males typically show rich chestnut upperparts with a dark, often glossy head and a bright blue eye-ring and bill. They are agile aerial insect hunters, frequently sallying from shaded perches. Pairs build neat cup nests in tree forks and both parents feed the young.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

social and active

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with agile sallies

Social Behavior

Usually seen in pairs or small family groups, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks. Pairs are largely monogamous and defend small territories during breeding. They build a small, neat cup nest suspended in a forked branch, where both sexes incubate and feed the chicks.

Migratory Pattern

Partial migrant

Song Description

Song is a sweet, fluty series of whistles interspersed with soft warbles. Calls include sharp, dry tsee-tsee and metallic chips, given frequently while foraging and in contact with mates.

Unlock detailed bird insights with Pro access today.

Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

African penguin

The African penguin, also known as Cape penguin or South African penguin, is a species of penguin confined to southern African waters. It is the only penguin found in the Old World. Like all penguins, it is flightless, with a streamlined body and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat. Adults weigh an average of 2.2–3.5 kg (4.9–7.7 lb) and are 60–70 cm (24–28 in) tall. The species has distinctive pink patches of skin above the eyes and a black facial mask. The body's upper parts are black and sharply delineated from the white underparts, which are spotted and marked with a black band.

African piculet

The African piculet, sometimes placed in the genus Sasia, is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Verreauxia. It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, and Uganda. This species is described as locally common and has a very large range, so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".

African pipit

The African pipit is a fairly small passerine bird belonging to the pipit genus Anthus in the family Motacillidae. It is also known as the grassveld pipit or grassland pipit. It was formerly lumped together with the Richard's, Australian, mountain and paddyfield pipits in a single species, Richard's pipit, but is now often treated as a species in its own right.

African pitta

The African pitta is an Afrotropical bird of the family Pittidae. It is a locally common to uncommon species, resident and migratory in the west, and an intra-African migrant between equatorial and southeastern Africa. They are elusive and hard to observe despite their brightly coloured plumage, and their loud, explosive calls are infrequently heard. The plump, somewhat thrush-like birds forage on leaf litter under the canopy of riparian or coastal forest and thickets, or in climax miombo forest. They spend much time during mornings and at dusk scratching in leaf litter or around termitaria, or may stand motionless for long periods. Following rains breeding birds call and display from the mid-canopy.