Bates's Paradise Flycatcher
Terpsiphone batesi
The Bates's Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone batesi) is a legendary monarch flycatchers, paradise flycatchers, and shrikebill found in 6 countries, weighing about 15 g. Bates's paradise flycatcher is a passerine bird belonging to the monarch-flycatcher family, Monarchidae.
About the Bates's Paradise Flycatcher
Bates's paradise flycatcher is a passerine bird belonging to the monarch-flycatcher family, Monarchidae. The sexes are similar in appearance with the upper parts being rufous and the head and underparts being bluish-grey. It is native to central Africa where it is found in the understorey of forests.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Bates's paradise flycatcher is usually 18 centimetres long but males in parts of Cameroon and Angola have elongated central tail-feathers making them 23-28 centimetres long. The head and underparts are blue-grey while the upperparts are rufous. The sexes are similar in coloration. The song is a series of ringing "tswee" notes. The rufous-vented paradise flycatcher is similar in appearance but has a darker head with a crest and males always have elongated central tail-feathers.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Central African Republic.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in September. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Bates's Paradise Flycatcher?
- Bates's paradise flycatcher is usually 18 centimetres long but males in parts of Cameroon and Angola have elongated central tail-feathers making them 23-28 centimetres long. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Bates's Paradise Flycatcher?
- The Bates's Paradise Flycatcher is a small sized bird weighing about 15 g.
- Where can you see a Bates's Paradise Flycatcher?
- The Bates's Paradise Flycatcher occurs in 6 countries, including Cameroon, Congo - Brazzaville, Gabon, Congo - Kinshasa and Angola.
- What birds look similar to a Bates's Paradise Flycatcher?
- The Bates's Paradise Flycatcher is most easily confused with the Rufous-vented Paradise Flycatcher, the Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher and the Bedford's Paradise Flycatcher.
- Is the Bates's Paradise Flycatcher endangered?
- The Bates's Paradise Flycatcher is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Bates's Paradise Flycatcher for real
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