Common Kingfisher - Neela Ponman ( നീല പൊൻമാൻ )

സ്വർഗ്ഗീയ പക്ഷി

Swargeeya Pakshi in Kerala or Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone Paradisi)

The Indian Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi), ‘Nakamohan’ or ‘Swargheeya
Pakshi’ in Malayalam vernacular is a medium-sized  migratory insectivorous bird
widely distributed in Kerala State, India during the months of September to April. The
birds inhabit thick forests and well-wooded habitats and hunts in flight in the under-
storey. The bird distribution ranges from Central Asia to south-eastern China, Nepal, all
over India and Sri Lanka to Myanmar.
Adult male Indian paradise flycatchers are ca.70 cm long. Their heads are glossy black
with a black crown and crest, black eyes and black round and sturdy bill. Female are 20-
25 cm long, rufous on the back with a grayish throat and under parts. Young males look
very similar to females but have a black throat and blue-ringed eyes. As adults they
develop long tail feathers up to 25 cm with two central tail feathers growing more than
40 cm long drooping streamers. Young males are rufous and have short tails. They
acquire long tails in their second or third year. Adult males (ca. 4 –year-old) are
predominantly white or bright rufous above. Some birds show certain degree of
intermediacy between rufous and white. The Indian paradise flycatcher spends the winter
season in tropical  Asia. In southern India and Sri Lanka, both locally breeding
populations and visiting migrants have been recorded. Its breeding season lasts from May
to July. Bboth male and female take part in nest-building, incubation, brooding and
feeding of the young. Three to four eggs are laid in a neat cup shaped nest made with
twigs and spider webs on the end of a low branch.  The chicks hatch in about 21 to 23
days. Based on differences in plumage of male birds, three sub species have been
reported. (1): T. p. paradisi  which breeds in central and southern India, central
Bangladesh and south-western Myanmar. (2): Himalayan paradise flycatcher (T. p.
leucogaster)   breeds in Afghanistan, in northern Pakistan, in northwestern and central
India, and in western and central Nepal. Populations in in southern India migrate towards
central to northern India and the foothills of the  Himalayas in spring for breeding. (3):
Ceylon paradise flycatcher (T. p. ceylonensis)  occurs in Sri Lanka.
As the global population is considered stable, it has been listed as Least Concern on the
IUCN Red List.

Binomial Name
Terpsiphone Paradisi

Sub Species
Terpsiphone paradisi paradisi
Terpsiphone paradisi leucogaster
Terpsiphone paradisi ceylonensis