Indian Paradise Flycatcher

Indian Paradise Flycatcher
This species is defined as a Review Species . Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page .

Scientific Name: Terpsiphone paradisi

Malay Name: Murai-Gading India

Chinese Name: 印度寿带

Range: Found from northern Afghanistan, Pakistan, western China, Indian subcontinent, Nepal, central Bangladesh, south-western Myanmar to Sri Lanka with some populations known to winter south to Sri Lanka.

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: leucogaster, paradisi, ceylonensis.

Size: 20cm

Identification: All ages, sexes and morph types resemble Blyth's Paradise Flycatcher and Amur Paradise Flycatcher but can be easily separated from these similar looking species by its long, pointed and fully erected crest.

Similar looking species: Blyth's Paradise Flycatcher, Amur Paradise Flycatcher, Black Paradise Flycatcher

Habitat: Inhabit thick forests and well-wooded habitats in its breeding range.

Behaviour/Ecology: Feed on a variety of insects taken in sallies from a perch or snatched as they flush. Usually forage high up the canopy.

Local Status: Vagrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)

Featured reports: Sep 2022, Nov 2022

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Note that records currently under review are also not displayed, and the list may not be a full list of records of this species in Singapore. For more details, check the database here.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Indian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi
Average number of individuals by week based on Singapore Bird Database data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024 (all records)
Peak weeks Nov 12-Nov 18, Nov 26-Dec 02, Dec 03-Dec 09 (3 more)
Early date 11 Nov 2022
Late date 10 Apr 2018
The rarest paradise flycatcher in Singapore with just two past records, both at Sungei Buloh.
Indian Paradise Flycatcher at SBWR. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Indian Paradise Flycatcher at SBWR. Photo credit: Feroz Fizah
Indian Paradise Flycatcher at SBWR. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Indian Paradise Flycatcher at SBWR. Photo credit: Feroz Fizah
Indian Paradise Flycatcher at Singapore Botanic Gardens. Photo credit: Jared Tan

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Indian Paradise-Flycatcher)

References:

BirdLife International. (2019). Terpsiphone paradisi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T103715992A155628184.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Indian Paradise Flycatcher. Retrieved on July 14, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/indian-paradise-flycatcher.

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