Asian Paradise Flycatcher, The Male

The typical adult male "Asian Paradise flycatcher" is about 20cm long.But the long ribbon like tail of almost 30cm is the most significant character of the male.It is amazing to watch the bird with such a long tail flying from tree to tree and hunting flying insects.

Another significant character of the male is that it changes it's color during it's development from subadult to adult male .The subadult male ( first two years of growth ) have chestnut brown color on the back with whitish underpart and metallic blue black head.When it grows to adult male i.e in third year from hatching it changes it's color to shining white except the head.The wings laterally appears to have black stripes.In some cases in the second year of development the male with partly white and partly chestnut brown color tail is also seen.

This is the beauty of nature in true sense.I watch these birds for hours and admire their beauty.All these photographs are shot with my pretty old Nikon F3 camera and a 200 mm lens.

Asian Paradise Flycatcher

Asian Paradise Fly Catcher
Species : Terpsiphone paradise
Family : Corvidae
Size : About the size of Bulbul

The Asian Paradise-flycatcher is a noisy bird with a sharp skreek call. It has short legs and sits very upright whilst perched prominently, like a shrike. It is insectivorous, hunting by flycatching .Pairs are seen moving after winged insects in shady grooves and thin jungles near nullahs. Sometimes seen near homestead in rural areas. The birds are seen moving only after the tiny creatures that fly and catch those in flight. The birds as observed are not sedentary and arrive at this locality during March much before the rain every year.

The sub adult male and female look alike except the tail.The bird is usually 20cm long while the male has a 30 long tail which is the unique character.The body of the female is chestnut brown color with grayish underpart.The head and throat are metallic black.The eyes have blue circle.The tail is short and roundish.I will tell about the male in my next post which is very unique as compare to other birds.Now enjoy the beauty of bird watching.

Black naped Monarch Flycatcher,The Nesting

The breeding season varies from June to August i.e. the rainy season.This may be due to the reason that plenty of food is vailable at that time.

The nest is a small conical cup shaped structure. It is made of fine grasses woven together plastered outside with cub webs and spider egg cases etc. It is built on a hanging twig of plants mostly at a height of 6 feet to 8 feet. The female mostly lays four numbers of eggs which are pale creamy pink color blotched with reddish brown. Both the parent incubate the egg for about 16 to 18 days. Fledging takes place in around 10 to 12 days, both the parents take care of the chicks.

The photographs are shot in Barapahad forest of Bargarh district in Orissa, India. I watch the chicks leaving the nest one by one. It is so thrilling that even I skipped my breakfast and launch to watch it. This is the beauty of bird watching. I don’t have any expensive camera. I used the pretty old Nikon F3 camera with a 200 mm lens.

Black-naped Monarch Flycatcher,The Male

The adult male black-napped monarch flycatcher is a small about 16 cm bird.The male's head, chest, back and tail are blue.The wings are darker.The belly is white.There is a black band around the throat and black crest on the crown and hence the name "Black-naped Monarch Flycatcher".It has short legs and sits upright while perched on branches.It often hunts by fly catching.It makes a sharp sound and easily noticeable.

Black-naped Monarch Fly Catcher

Black-naped Monarch Fly Catcher

Species: Hypothymis azurea

Family : Corvidae

Size : 16 cm

The Black-naped Monarch fly catcher is a small passerine bird.This bird is seen across Southern Asia from India and Srilanka east to Indonesia and Philippines.This species is usually found in thick forest mostly mixed bamboo forest and other well wooded habitats.They hunt making agile movements after winged insects.

The male and and female looks different.The female is brownish grey on the back,wings, tail and breast and has a blue grey head.The photograph above is that of an adult female.Such a graceful bird it is.Enjoy the beauty of bird watching.

Streaked Fantail Warbler, The Nesting

The nesting season varies from from June to September. Male birds are polygamous. the female builds a small nest deep in the grasses, often binding living leaves. The nest is a deep oblong pouch of vegetable matters glued together with cobwebs and attached with the blades of grass .It is generally built at a height of about 2 inches from the ground. It lays about 3-4 Nos of eggs. The eggs are whitish spotted with red & brown colour.It weighs about only one gram. The incubation period is about 12 to 14 days. Both the parents raise the young for a period of 10-12 days. The main food of this bird consists of Insects like grasshoppers and caterpillars etc.

The nest in the phot ograph is located in a waste land near Mahanadi river bed.I waited for long hours to take some feeding shots among wild grasses.I used a Nikon F3 camera and 200 mm lens.This is the wonder of bird watching.

Streaked Fantail-Warbler

Streaked Fantail-Warbler

Species: Cisticola Juncidis

Family: Cisticolidae

Size: Smaller than sparrow

It is a beautiful small bird about 10 cm long. It has a whitish underneath and a heavily striped back in dark brown colour. The tail is short with whitish ends. The tail is constantly flicked open like a fan hence the name fantail warbler. The beak is sharp and pointed.

These birds are more easily heard than seen . Its presence is easily felt as it utters a sharp sound too frequently. It has a constant chik chik chik sound very sweet to heard. The bird is seen moving in open grassy lands, reed beds & paddy fields. Taking photograph of this bird is a very hard task. I located the nest in a riverbed and able to take the shots in my Nikon F3 camera with a 200 mm lens. Enjoy watching the bird