The São Tomé paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone atrochalybeia), also known as São Tomé flycatcher, is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae. The species was described by Thomas Richard Heywood Thomson in 1842, with Tchitrea atrochalybeia the binomial and Fernando Po given as the type locality. The species is endemic to São Tomé Island. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
Habitat: They inhabit moist, tropical forests, particularly in the canopy and understory, thriving in both primary and secondary growth, notes Birdbuddy.
Appearance: Males are glossy blue-black with a pale blue bill and eye-rings, featuring long tail streamers, say eBird. Females have a dark crown, grey face, and rust-colored (cinnamon) upperparts with a shorter tail, say eBird.
Behavior: These birds are active insectivores, often catching insects on the wing, say Wikipedia. They are known for being very vocal, with calls described as rapid electric clicking or buzzing sounds, notes eBird.
Conservation Status: The species is listed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN. They are not considered threatened as they have a stable, non-declining population, according to BirdLife DataZone.
Range: They are endemic to São Tomé Island in the Gulf of Guinea, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world, say Wikipedia.
Identification: They are easily distinguished from other birds in their range, as the only similar species, the Spotted Flycatcher, is a rare migrant, says eBird.
