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The Asian Paradise Flycatcher has always been a flamboyant passerine to be photographed quite often throughout the Gangetic Bengal in India, but hardly any behavioural documentation is enlisted till date. The nesting behaviour of the subject bird encompassing its parental behaviours was studied on a wetland stretch of Ishapore, southern Gangetic Bengal. The present study mainly deals with the nesting behaviour, incubation activities, hatching, and parental care to fledging of a wild pair. The behavioural changes at par with the changing weather conditions and the neighbouring species too were studied.

Most lizards have well developed auditory abilities, while not actually vocalizing to any extent outside of geckos. However, except for geckos, function of hearing in lizards has not been well investigated. Recently, the ability to eavesdrop on the alarm calls of a syntopic avian species has been demonstrated in four species of lizards that belong to different families. This suggests that eavesdropping is a major function of hearing in lizards. To examine this possibility we tested the ability of heterospecific eavesdropping by a lizard that belongs to another family in an Ampijoroa forest of Madagascar, where two lizard species have been known to show this ability. We experimentally tested whether Zonosaurus laticaudatus, a gerrhosaurid lizard, has the ability to eavesdrop on the alarm calls of the Madagascar paradise flycatcher. In the experiment, we provided bait on the ground in front of free-ranging zonosaurs to induce their foraging activity and played back alarm calls or songs of the bird...

The mitogenome of Terpsiphone paradisi is 16,951 bp in length and consists of 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes and one control region. The nucleotide frequencies of As, Ts, Cs, Gs of the mitogenome is 31.0%, 24.7%, 29.8% and 14.5%, respectively. All PCGs start with typical ATN codon with the exception of COI genes, which use GTG as the initiation codon, and Most PCGs end with AGG, AGA, TAA, or TAG, except for COII, COIII and ND4, which terminated with T instead. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that genetic distances of T. paradisi and Terpsiphone atrocaudata was closer than other species.

We construct a molecular phylogeny of Terpsiphone flycatchers of the Indian Ocean and use this to investigate their evolutionary relationships. A total of 4.4 kb of mitochondrial (cyt-b, ND3, ND2, control region) and nuclear (G3PDH, MC1R) sequence data were obtained from all species, sub-species and island populations of the region. Colonisation of the western Indian Ocean has been within the last two million years and greatly postdates the formation of the older islands of the region. A minimum of two independent continent-island colonisation events must have taken place in order to explain the current distribution and phylogenetic placement of Terpsiphone in this region. While five well-diverged Indian Ocean clades are detected, the relationship between them is unclear. Short intermodal branches are indicative of rapid range expansion across the region, masking exact routes and chronology of colonisation. The Indian Ocean Terpsiphone taxa fall into five well supported clades, two of which (the Seychelles paradise flycatcher and the Mascarene paradise flycatcher) correspond with currently recognised species, whilst a further three (within the Madagascar paradise flycatcher) are not entirely predicted by taxonomy, and are neither consistent with distance-based nor island age-based models of colonisation. We identify the four non-Mascarene clades as Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs), while the Mascarene paradise flycatcher contains two ESUs corresponding to the Mauritius and Réunion subspecies. All six ESUs are sufficiently diverged to be worthy of management as if they were separate species. This phylogenetic reconstruction highlights the importance of sub-specific molecular phylogenetic reconstructions in complex island archipelago settings in clarifying phylogenetic history and ESUs that may otherwise be overlooked and inadvertently lost. Our phylogenetic reconstruction has identified hidden pockets of evolutionary distinctiveness, which provide a valuable platform upon which to re-evaluate investment of conservation resources within the Terpsiphone flycatchers of the Indian Ocean.

I investigated nest-site characteristics affecting the risk of nest predation in the Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone mutata. Several nest predators have been identified in the study area, and the time of nest predation has also been determined. Two variables, the distance from the nest to the nearest tree and nest visibility, were revealed to have effects on nesting success/failure in this species: nests further from other trees and better concealed by vegetation had higher probabilities of fledging success. Distance from the nearest tree may be a factor affecting predation by a nocturnal, arboreal snake species. On the other hand, nest visibility may affect the probability of being found by diurnal, visually oriented predators. Nest-site characteristics are expected to differ between the nests preyed upon by diurnal and nocturnal predators. Contrary to expectation, no significant difference was observed between the characteristics of nest sites preyed upon in two time categories. The ...

Summary. 1. At Amani, Tanganyika Territory, the Paradise Flycatchers use the softest moss for their nests and make them durable by oversewing the rim with cobweb. Sites are on the forest edge nearly always over water. Theree hours of observation were made at three nests in spells of about eight hours at a time. 2. On the whole the males and females shared the care of the eggs and the young about equally, but there were wide differences in this respect from day to day 3. The eggs were covered for over 90% of the observed time, and a high proportion of spells “on” were terminated by thc mate's arriving to take over. Duration of individual spells “on” varied up to two hours, but the favourite duration (nearly half of all the spells) was about 30–40 minutes. This applied both to spells “on” terminated by the initiative of the sitting bird and to those terminated by the arrival of the mate. The possibility suggests itself that an internal rhythm was operating, irrespective of whether a bird was on or off the nest. Nevertheless, out of 39 occasions (all short) when the eggs were uncovered through the sitter's departure without relief, the same bird returned on 18, which suggests that when off the nest both parents “keep an eye on it” and react to the situation “nest uncovered”. 4. Brooding of the young amounted at first to nearly the same high percentage of time as the brooding o f the rggs, but was in much shorter spells. It stopped abruptly about the fifth day. others followed a parent. 5. Each nestling of a brood of two in a nest received more food (largely butterflies) than each in two broods of three, 2.6-5.4 feeds per hour compared with 14-2.5 and 1.3-1.8. 6. Some of the young that wcre seen to fly left the nest in the absence of the parents, All left between dawn and noon. Nestling period about 11 days irrespective of the amount of food received.

Bird song is an important signal for long-distance intraspecific communication. Thus, song characteristics are expected to have undergone adaptive modification to maximise propagation through the environment. Acoustic properties of song should be correlated with the habitat in which they are broadcast, and neighbouring individuals should sing similar songs because they share the same local acoustic environment. We tested these predictions by investigating associations between habitat characteristics and song attributes in the Madagascar paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone mutata. We also examined whether song dialects were distributed non-randomly through the study site and which features of habitat density best explained these associations. We found that individuals on territories in denser habitat sang longer songs at lower frequencies. Features of song structure were related to both understorey and canopy cover density. The distribution of dialects within the study site was also strongly associated with variation in understorey cover. These findings suggest that habitat variation contributes to maintaining microgeographic variation in song structure in this species.

Within-population variation in the timing of breeding in the insectivorous Madagascar paradise flycatcher, Terpsiphone mutata (L., 1766), was investigated in a dry forest of northwestern Madagascar. The study area was divided into two sites (namely, A and B) based on the distance from the waterside. An examination was conducted to determine whether the date of egg laying varies between the two sites, and if it does vary, what are the environmental factors that affect the variation. The females started egg laying significantly earlier at site B than at site A. The two sites are located in a continuous forest; hence, photoperiod and precipitation would not differ between them. The number of insects was higher at site B than at site A. The difference in the temperature was not considered to be the cause of the variation in the date of egg laying. Age structure of the females was not likely to differ between the sites. Therefore, the variation in the date of egg laying is considered to be caused by the difference in food abundance that is associated with the relative distance from the waterside.

The breeding habitat of the Black Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone atrocaudata was studied in the Kiyosumi mountains, Chiba Prefecture. Five nests were found in the study area in 2004. The song areas in the three sites that were intensively monitored were similar in size (approximately 1.9 ha). All song areas comprised forestry plantations with low tree density, which appeared suitable for the aerial feeding habits of this species. All nest sites were near forest borders and the tree densities beneath and around them were low. The nests were built on vines or dead branches with canopy cover, but branches and leaves below them were scarce. These features of the nest sites probably provide access to the nests for parents and defense against nest predators. Although the Black Paradise Flycatcher is said to inhabit dark forests, my results suggest that it may prefer (at least partially) forests with low tree density as breeding habitats.

I studied the parental care behavior of the Madagascar paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone mutata in northwestern Madagascar. I especially focused on feeding, brooding and vigilance behaviors. Feeding rate did not differ between males and females, but females spent more time at the nest than males. Females dedicated their time to brooding, while males perched on the nest and were vigilant. Both parents changed the feeding rate in relation to brood size, so the feeding rate per nestling was not different among nests of different brood size. Duration of brooding by females increased with decreasing brood size, suggesting that the Royama effect, the pattern of lower feeding rate per nestling in larger broods, did not apply in this study. Males spent more time on vigilance than females. Anti-predator vigilance by males should be important for nestling survival given the high predation pressure typical of this population. In conclusion, males provide considerable parental care probably to minimize nestling starvation and to avoid nest predation. My results are not consistent with the general pattern of less parental effort by males in monogamous, sexually dimorphic species.

The 10 km2 island of La Digue, Republic of Seychelles, western Indian Ocean supports the last viable population of the Critically Endangered Seychelles Black Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone corvina. Small populations recorded on adjacent islands since the 1980s appear to be ephemeral and not self-sustaining. We document the results of the first island-wide survey of the flycatcher on La Digue using the playback of conspecific calls at random points. Previous surveys were based largely on counting the number of singing males. The survey was conducted between April and August 2001 and confirmed (i) the current world population is at least 200 individuals (109-145 territories, 218-290 individuals) in a c. 4.4 km2 range, thus accurately quantifying the documented increase in flycatcher numbers since the late 1970s; (ii) territories were more widely distributed than previously recorded and not exclusively associated with coastal plateaux or freshwater bodies, contrary to previous descriptions; and (iii) distribution was determined largely by the presence of high canopy (native) broad-leaved tree species. The importance of canopy height to flycatchers was highlighted by the fact that localized loss of high canopy (native) forest (4%), in a 161 ha study area on the large western plateau, resulted in an equivalent reduction (4%) in the number of territories. In light of our findings we discuss the implications for conservation of the flycatcher on La Digue and its possible translocation.

The critically endangered Seychelles Black Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone corvina was once found on at least five of the inner (granitic) islands in the Seychelles archipelago, western Indian Ocean. Currently, it is only found on two islands, with c. 98% of the world population (c. 150-200 individuals) occurring on the 10-km 2 island of La Digue. Creation of additional island populations is therefore considered crucial in improving its conservation status. The presence of native broad-leaved plateau forest in proximity to wetland areas is proposed as an important selection criterion when considering the suitability of other islands for translocation, due to the presumed importance of insect prey (dependent on water) in the diet. We quantified habitat use, territory composition, the effect of water on invertebrate abundance, and foraging and breeding success to determine the importance of native broad-leaved woodland and wetland areas for Flycatchers. Flycatcher territories contained significantly more native broad-leaved woodland (88%) than its availability on the plateau (43%); Flycatchers used native tree species significantly more for both foraging (81%) and nesting (95%) than their availability within territories (71%); and territory size varied inversely with the density of native broad-leaved tree species. Native broad-leaved forest was associated with semipermanent and permanent water bodies and availability of native forest habitat was a good predictor of territory distribution. The number of aerial insects trapped was higher close to water, but there was no effect of the proximity to water on the number of insects counted on foliage. The majority of identified prey species in adult diet were not dependent on water: Orthoptera and Lepidoptera were the most common prey groups, comprising 66% of identified prey items. There was no effect of proximity to water on foraging or breeding success (c. 35%): depredation was the major factor determining breeding success, and accounted for the majority of nest failures. The importance of wetland areas to Flycatchers therefore appears to have been over-emphasized. The implications for translocation and conservation of the Flycatcher are discussed.

The development of plumage polymorphism in male Madagascar paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone mutata (Linnaeus, 1766) was investigated in north-western Madagascar. Four distinct morphs were observed, namely, white-coloured with long tails (WL), rufous-coloured with long tails (RL), rufous-coloured with tails of middle length (RM), and rufous-coloured with short tails (RS). Females were rufous and had short tails. Indivudual males were marked and re-observed during 1994–98. RS males changed to RM in the following seasons. Among RM males, some individuals retained RM, others changed to RL or WL. RM males which changed to WL in the next season had possessed white patches on their belly, whereas RM males which changed to RL had not had such patches. Neither WL nor RL males changed their morphs. Nestlings were rufous regardless of their father's morph. One nestling changed to RS in the next season. From these results and the difference of body size among four morphs, it is deduced that RS males are one year old, and change to RM males in the next season. RM males change to RL or WL males after one or two years. RL and WL are two stable terminal plumages, and they may be genetically determined morphs. Resume On a etudie le developpement du polymorphisme du plumage du gobe-mouches paradis mâle de Madagascar Terpsiphone mutata (Linnaeus, 1766) au nord-ouest de Madagascar. On a observe cinq morphismes differents, a savoir : blanc avec une longue queue (WL), roux avec une longue queue (RL), roux avec une queue de longueur moyenne (RM) et roux avec une queue courte (RS). Les femelles etaient roussâtres et avaient une queue courte. On a marque des mâles que l'on a re-observes de 1994 a 1998. Les mâles RS evoluaient en RM au cours des saisons suivantes. Parmi les mâles RM, certains restaient RM, d'autres devenaient RL ou WL. Les mâles RM qui devenaient WL la saison suivante avaient deja avant des taches blanches sur le ventre alors que les RM qui devenaient RL n'avaient pas ces taches. Ni les WL ni les RL ne changeaient de morphisme. Les jeunes au nid etaient roux quel que soit le morphisme du pere. Une nichee est devenue RS la saison suivante. A partir de ces resultats et de la difference de taille corporelle entre les quatre morphismes, on deduit que les mâles RS sont,ges d'un an et deviennent RM la saison suivante. Les mâles RM deviennent RL ou WL apres un ou deux ans. RL et WL sont deux plumages terminaux stables et il se peut qu'ils soient des morphismes genetiquement determines.

Seychelles Black Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone corvina is found almost exclusively on the 10 km2 island of La Digue. It is currently considered the second rarest endemic bird in the Seychelles, using the criteria of total population and number of discrete populations. Research reassessing the habitat requirements of the flycatcher was conducted on La Digue from 1999 to 2001. This work was conducted in parallel with assessment and ranking of the suitability of medium-sized islands of the inner Seychelles archipelago for avian ecosystem restoration, using biological, geographical and anthropogenic criteria. Predator eradications on several islands have led to a reduction in the range of alien predators, and future eradications are planned. These developments combined with the findings of recent ecological research and a novel assessment of many islands in the archipelago have led to the opportunity for a reassessment of conservation options for Seychelles Black Paradise-flycatcher. This paper discusses and prioritizes strategies to increase the range and total population and hence improve the conservation status of this species.

Two male plumage morphs, ‘white’ and ‘rufous’, coexist in the Madagascar paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone mutata. There has been enduring debate about whether this dimorphism in male plumage represents seasonal dichromatism, delayed plumage maturation, or genetic differences. We present data from a nine-year study monitoring plumage changes in 119 individually colour-banded males (430 male-years). Our data show that paradise flycatchers are not seasonally dichromatic, and that although males show delayed plumage maturation, the rufous morph is not simply a precursor to white plumage, as previously thought. Individual males followed irreversible developmental pathways to ‘rufous’ or ‘white’, and could be reliably assigned to these distinct phenotypes by their second year. ‘White’ males adopted definitive plumage by the age of three years, whereas ‘rufous’ males did so between the ages of three and six years. The fixed nature of these morphs suggests that a genetic basis for the dichromatism is likely. However, variation in the timing of definitive plumage acquisition in rufous males could involve condition dependence and be environmentally influenced.

Variations in egg mass and egg-laying date for the Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher, Terpsiphone mutata, were studied from 1996 to 1998 in deciduous dry forest of the Ampijoroa Forest Station, northwestern Madagascar. There was a significant seasonal change in egg mass. An egg laid in the middle or late breeding season was heavier than one laid by the same female in the early breeding season. Egg mass was not correlated with temperature or precipitation, but was positively correlated with the abundance of insects. This suggests that egg mass appears to be constrained by insect supply, resulting in a seasonal change in egg mass. During the study period, variation in egg mass did not seriously affect breeding success, though it is possible that high predation masked the real effect. Earlier laying may be advantageous for nesting pairs, because the young are then in the nest when food is most abundant; it also allows them sufficient time to re-nest if their first nest suffers predation. Heavier eggs were found...

The Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone mutata and Common Newtonia Newtonia brunneicauda frequently form two-species flocks in the deciduous dry forest of western Madagascar. In T. mutata, some males have long tails, while other males and females have short tails. When foraging in mixed flocks, each type of bird captured prey more rapidly than otherwise, but the degree of increase in feeding rate was smaller in long-tailed males. When in mixed flocks, all T. mutata caught prey on leaves in the canopy where N. brunneicauda foraged. Long-tailed males changed feeding habits from sallying when not in mixed flocks, whereas short-tailed birds showed no change of feeding habit. The elongated tails of long-tailed males may have made their foraging less efficient owing to decreased agility in the canopy. N. brunneicauda is monomorphic and often formed groups of three to five individuals. In monospecific flocks, subordinates fed at low rates on branches owing to frequent hostile encounters. When foraging in mixed flocks, however, subordinates foraged among leaves, and their feeding rates increased because the frequency of intraspecific interference decreased greatly. Dominants did not show any difference in feeding pattern with social situation. Thus, heterospecific flocking was more advantageous for subordinates.

The seasonal change in home range size and distribution of the male Madagascar paradise flycatcher, Terpsiphone mutata, was studied in deciduous dry forest of the Ampijoroa Forest Station, northwestern Madagascar. Male home ranges were spaced out in the prebreeding period but overlapped during the breeding period; this change resulted from male intrusion into neighboring home ranges. Male intrusion was often observed during the prelaying and laying stages of females in invaded home ranges. These stages are assumed to be in a fertile period of females. Intruder males tended to have longer tails as compared to resident males. Intruder males may be seeking extra-pair copulations. Females may prefer long-tailed males to short-tailed males as extra-pair partners, or long-tailed males may be dominant to short-tailed males.

We generated the complete mitochondrial genome of the black paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone atrocaudata; Family: Monarchidae), an ecologically important insectivorous bird in Asian forest ecosystems. The mitogenome was 16,984 bp in length and consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs and a control region. Gene composition and arrangement in the mitogenome were similar to those of related families Corvidae and Laniidae available in GenBank. However, tRNAAla was located between COXII and ATP8 genes in the mitogenome of T. atrocaudata while tRNALys, was in the same location in the mitogenomes of Corvidae and Laniidae. The phylogenetic tree based on the mitogenomes of T. atrocaudata and the related families supported that Monarchidae was the sister taxa to the clade of Laniidae and Corvidae. The mitogenome of T. atrocaudata will be a valuable genetic resource for phylogenetic analyses and implication of conservation and management of the species.

Mixed- species foraging bird flocks in Walauwatta-Waturan Swamp Forest (WWSF) were studiedfor a period of six months from February to July in 2001. Field data was collected from 07:00 to18:00 hrs and flocks were followed as long as possible to record their composition. Scan samplingmethod (Altman, 1975) was used to record their behavioural activity, height of feeding, feedingsite and the role of each individual within the flock. Two minute scan samples were done with fiveminute intervals and almost all the birds participating in the flock were scanned within the twominutes time period. The flocking tendency of birds in WWSF was 28.7% and 27 flocks were studied. A total of 31 birdspecies were recorded to participate in mixed-species flocks in WWSF. These include 28 residentand 3 migrate species. Five species were endemic to Sri Lanka. The flock composition varied from3 to 15 species (5.89±2.61) and 4 to 31 individuals (I2.96±7.41). There was a positive correlationbetween the number of species and ~ock size (r= 0.796). Crested Drongo (77.78%) and Black-naped Monarch (70.37%) were the most frequent birds foundin flocks while Sri Lanka Orange-billed Babbler was the most abundant (8.78±3.67 individuals perflock). Territorial species such as Purple-romped Sunbird joined the flock when it was passingthrough their territory. Birds in mixed-species flocks in WWSF were classified as nuclear species,lead species, regular species, and occasional species. 2 major nuclear species (Crested Drongo &Sri Lanka Orange-billed Babbler), 4 lead species (Above two with Malabar Trogon and AsianParadise Flycatcher), 12 regular species, and IS occasional species were identified. Associations ofbird species participating in mixed species flocks in WWSF were studied using cluster analysis.Two main clusters could be identified, one of which could be again divided into two subassociations.The first cluster comprised of Crested Drongo and Black-naped Monarch who showedthe highest level of association. Black Bulbul and Sri Lanka Orange-billed Babbler could not bepooled into any clusters. Different species in mixed species flocks had different optimum height levels of movementthrough the forest and appeared to have characteristic feeding sites. The vertical distribution of theregular species in flocks was consistent. Sri Lanka Orange-billed Babbler was found at a widerange of foraging heights. But, Scarlet Minivet and Black Bulbul were observed mostly in thecanopy and the Crested Drongo was observed in the middle strata of the forest (10 to 20 ft). TheAsian Paradise Flycatcher was observed in the same range. However, other fly catching species(Black-naped Monarch and Tickell's Blue flycatcher) were observed mostly in the 10 to 15ftvertical range. There was an extensive overlap of height ranges between some species. But theywere observed to use different activity/feeding sites. Black-naped Monarch and Velvet-frontedBlue Nuthatch were found in the same height range, but feeding sites utilized by them wasdifferent (foliage and tree trunk respectively). Crested Drongo and Asian Paradise Flycatcher wereobserved to occupy the same vertical height range and feeding sites, but they were using differentfeeding techniques. Even being a small area of 12 ha (CEA, 1994) IIWTOUIIdedby Rubber plantations and homegardens, the Swamp Forest have a considerable flocking tendency with compared to Sinharaja Forest Reserve 30%)(Kotagama et. AI., 1986) and Knuckles Conservation Forest (30.S) (Sbriyani, 2000), thus worth conserve thehabitat

Nine polymorphic microsatellite loci from the Madagascar paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone mutata were isolated using nonradioactive polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques to screen an enriched genomic library. Seven polymorphic loci showed no evidence of null alleles and exhibited high levels of variation in 18 unrelated individuals (mean diversity = 0.80, mean number of alleles = 13.6). These loci are therefore suitable for analysis of population structure and paternity (exclusion probability for six unlinked loci = 0.9998).

(2002). Breeding biology of the Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher, Terpsiphone mutata, with special reference to plumage variation in males. Ostrich: Vol. 73, No. 1-2, pp. 67-69.

Prey animals can reduce their risk of predation by detecting potential predators before encounters occur. Some animals gain information about nearby predators by eavesdropping on heterospecific alarm calls. Despite having well-developed ears, most lizards do not use vocal information for intraspecific communication, and few studies have shown practical use of the ears in wild lizards. Here, we show that the Madagascan spiny-tailed iguana ( Oplurus cuvieri cuvieri ) obtains auditory signals for predator detection. The Madagascan spiny-tailed iguana and the Madagascar paradise flycatcher ( Terpsiphone mutata ) are syntopic inhabitants of the Ampijoroa dry deciduous forest of Madagascar. The iguana and the flycatcher have neither a predator–prey relationship nor resource competition, but they have shared predators such as raptors and snakes. Using playback experiments, we demonstrated that the iguana discriminates mobbing alarm calls of the flycatcher from its songs and then enhances its vigilance behaviour. Our results demonstrate the occurrence of an asymmetrical ecological relationship between the Madagascan spiny-tailed iguana and the paradise flycatcher through eavesdropping on information about the presence of predators. This implies that indirect interspecific interactions through information recognition may be more common than generally thought in an animal community.

The population size and extent of habitat for the Seychelles Black Paradise Flycatcher are compared with earlier investigations. The estimated world population is 90 individuals (1992). Deforestation on the western plateau of La Digue is estimated to have resulted in a 24% decline in Takamaka Calophyllum inophyllum and Indian Almond Terminalia catappa woodland since 1978. Monitoring of nest site use supports previous associations of the Flycatcher 's dependence on Takamaka and Indian Almond woodland (Collar and Stuart, 1985; Watson, 1991). Preliminary observations suggest that land management practices (clearing Takamaka and Indian Almond woodland for development) should be mitigated in view of the potential impact on nest site use by the flycatcher.

The Seychelles Black Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone corvina is currently listed as Critically Endangered, on the basis of small population and restricted range. Currently, there is only one self-sustaining population comprising c. 150–200 individuals on the 10km2 island of La Digue (Republic of Seychelles, western Indian Ocean), and consequently the creation of additional island populations has been identified as essential to improve its conservation status. We quantified the annual breeding success, adult mortality and juvenile recruitment of the flycatcher on La Digue, monitored tri-weekly over a two-year period (June 1999–June 2001), to determine factors affecting population demographics and assess the implications for the reintroduction of populations to other islands. A total of 267 breeding attempts were recorded with c. 45% of the documented world population of pairs systematically monitored each year. On average, pairs attempted to breed three times in a 12-month period (range 0–6), although not all attempts were successful. Breeding success was consistently low between years: 62% of nests (controlling for observation time) and 17–19% of study territories failed to produce any fledglings in each respective 12-month period. Daily failure rates were generally higher during incubation than in the nestling period. Nests close to the forest edge were more likely to fail. The majority (143) of the 152 failed nesting attempts were consistent with depredation and were characterised by the disappearance of nest contents and sometimes by egg and chick remains and the disappearance of the adult female. Predators were identified at 13 nests: five (3.3%) were depredated by birds, and eight (5.2%) were depredated by mammals and/or reptiles: Rattus sp. were confirmed as predators. Video monitoring conducted at 14 nests also confirmed the endemic Seychelles bulbul Hypsipetes crassirostris as a nest predator. Adult mortality was c. 21% and alien predators (Rattus sp. and Felis cattus) were identified in causing adult mortality. However, in the majority of cases, reasons for adult mortality were unknown. Of the 52 marked fledglings that could have been recruited to the plateau population, 45% (23) were observed away from their natal territory c. 9–10 months after fledging, 25% (13) of which were confirmed as territory-holding individuals. We present a simple model to predict population growth using the above data, and discuss implications for the creation of additional self-sustaining populations on suitable islands. Ostrich 2005, 76(3&4): 104–110

A new genus of quill mites (Cheyletoidea: Syringophilidae) and two new species Pipicobia terpsiphoni gen. nov. and sp. nov. and Syringophiloidus furthi sp. nov. parasitizing the black-headed paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer (Swainson) (Passeriformes: Monarchidae) in Gabon are described. Three species of the Neopicobia Skoracki, 2011 are moved to the newly established genus: Pipicobia locustella (Skoracki, Bochkov and Wauthy, 2004) comb. nov., Pipicobia pyrrholaemus (Skoracki and Glowska, 2008) comb.nov., and Pipicobia glossopsitta (Skoracki, Glowska and Sikora, 2008) comb.nov. Syringophilids are recorded on hosts of the family Monarchidae and in Gabon for the first time. A key to the genera of the subfamily Picobiinae is proposed.

Pseudadelphoscolex eburnensis, a new genus and species of metadilepidid Cyclophyllidea parasitic in the red-bellied paradise flycatcher, Terpsiphone rufiventer, from the Ivory Coast, is described. The new species is characterized by davaineidlike rostellar hooks, absence of a rostellar pouch, a huge cirrus pouch in gravid proglottids, a bilobed uterus that becomes progressively reticular, absence of a paruterine organ, and eggs with an internal coat forming a crescentic protuberance outside the embryophore. The presence of a single row of rostellar hooks together with the lack of spines on the sucker and the structure and position of the uterus exclude this new material from Davaineidae. It cannot be placed in Dilepididae due to the lack of a rostellar pouch or in Paruterinidae because of the lack of a paruterine organ. The position of the excretory ducts in relation to the genital pores and the alternance of these pores are the main characters used to exclude this new species from the known genera of Metadilepididae. The diversity of forms of Metadilepididae in intertropical terrestrial birds is increased, and the validity of this taxon is strengthened.

Summary Fraser, W. 1983. Foraging patterns of some South African flycatchers. Ostrich 54:150-155. The foraging behaviour of eight species of flycatchers found in South Africa was studied. Four feeding techniques were recognized: hawking, hawking-gleaning, gleaning and pouncing. The Chinspot Batis Batis molitor, Pririt Batis Batis pririt, Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis and the Leadcoloured Flycatcher Myioparus plumbeus use hawking-gleaning as their main feeding technique and forage predominantly within the canopy of the vegetation. The Fiscal Flycatcher Sigelus silens, Black Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina and Marico Flycatcher Melaenornis mariquensis use pouncing as their main feeding technique and forage outside the canopy. The Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata uses hawking as its main feeding technique and also forages outside the vegetation. While foraging the canopy-feeders are active and continually on the move through the vegetation in their search for prey whereas those foraging outsi...

In recent years several different kinds of sexual selection models have been developed, and tail ornaments in birds have frequently been used as an example of a sexually selected character where the models might apply. However, very little is known about intra- and interpopulation variation in ornament size. We have studied the elongated tail ornaments in four species of whydahs Vidua, the forktailed flycatcher Tyrannus savana and the Asian paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi. Ornaments were relatively longer in males with the longest tarsi (‘heterogony’ with positive allometry). Also, tail lengths were remarkably variable within each geographical area, the coefficient of variation (average = 11%) being three times as high as for body size characters. Models, with female preference of ornaments bearing no relation to male viability, usually generate lines of neutral equilibria. Thus, they predict extraordinary variation in ornaments between populations. However, elongated tail ornaments did not show higher geographical variation than the body size characters, suggesting that there is no line of equilibria for these ornaments.

(1964). NOTES ON THE BREEDING BEHAVIOUR OF THE PARADISE FLYCATCHER. Ostrich: Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 32-41.

1. The populations of the endemic avifauna of Seychelles have declined in numbers, some very seriously, during the last hundred years. Only those in danger of extinction are discussed here.2. The magpie robin population is reduced to a score of birds; the population will soon be extinct unless drastic action is taken.3. The population of the paradise flycatcher is reduced to about 30 birds; conservation must take the form of propaganda, especially since the population is in danger of being reduced still further by the economic development of La Digue.

(1961). NOTES ON THE BREEDING BEHAVIOUR OF THE PARADISE FLYCATCHER (TERPSIPHONE VIRIDIS PLUMBEICEPS) Ostrich: Vol. 32, No. 4, pp. 174-176.