Sexes are similar, but male is slightly larger with a longer tail.

The head, neck and underparts are dark and the wings and tail are chestnut. The eye-ring and beak are distinctly bluish. There is a prominent white wingbar. The female has a browner tint to the underparts and lacks the tail streamers. Young birds are similar to the female but duller.

Scientific name:

Terpsiphone viridis

Common names:

African Paradise-Flycatcher (English)
Paradysvlieëvanger (Afrikaans)

Synonyms:

Paradise Flycatcher

Roberts VII english name:

African Paradise-Flycatcher

Roberts VII scientific name:

Terpsiphone viridis

Family:

Chats and Old World Flycatchers (Muscicapidae)

Length:

Male 37cm, female 17cm

Weight:

14g

Diet:

African Paradise-Flycatchers are insectivorous, often hunting by catching flies on the wing, and eating eggs, larvae and adults. It also feeds on spiders and sometimes consumes berries.

Habits:

The African Paradise-Flycatcher is a noisy bird with a harsh scolding call. It has short legs and sits very upright whilst perched prominently, like a shrike. It is insectivorous, often hunting by catching flies on the wing, and eating eggs, larvae and adults. It also feeds on spiders and sometimes consumes berries. The cup-shaped nest is built in a tree and a clutch of two or three eggs are laid.[4]

Nesting:

The cup-shaped nest is built in a tree and a clutch of two or three eggs are laid.

Natural distribution:

The African Paradise-Flycatcher is found in most parts of Africa south of the Sahara Desert and also the Arabian Peninsula.

Habitat:

Preferred habitat is riparian woodland, but common in all woodlands and wooded gardens.