Terpsiphone cyanescens
The Blue Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone cyanescens) is a stunning and enigmatic passerine bird, a jewel among the Monarchidae family, endemic to the Palawan island group of the Philippines. Males are instantly recognizable by their entirely glossy, iridescent deep blue plumage, crowned by an exquisite crest and, most notably, two extraordinarily elongated, ribbon-like central tail feathers that can extend up to twice their body length, fluttering gracefully during flight. Females share the ...
This species primarily inhabits primary and secondary lowland forests, forest edges, bamboo thickets, and even mangrove fringes, typically found at elevations up to 600 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of flies, beetles, moths, caterpillars, and grasshoppers, captured through aerial hawking or gleaning from vegetation.
The Blue Paradise-Flycatcher is a diurnal and highly active insectivore, often seen foraging alone or in pairs within the forest understory and mid-canopy. It employs an agile foraging strategy, making swift aerial sallies from perches to snatch flying insects (aerial hawking) or gleaning prey fr...
The Blue Paradise-Flycatcher is strictly endemic to the Palawan Faunal Region in the Philippines, encompassing the main island of Palawan and its associated satellite islands. Its distribution includes significant populations on Busuanga, Culion, Calauit, Balabac, and numerous smaller islets with...
Near Threatened
- The male Blue Paradise-Flycatcher's central tail feathers can be up to 30 cm long, doubling its body length and acting as a mesmerizing visual display. - This bird is an island endemic, found only on the Palawan island group in the Philippines, making it a highly specialized species. - Its bril...