A migrating flycatcher returning to the same Sri Lankan garden sparks interest in birders

COLOMBO — As October drew to a close last year, ardent birdwatcher Moditha Kodikarachchi eagerly awaited a special guest in his garden — a migratory Asian paradise flycatcher. Since 2021, the same male flycatcher, identified by three distinct white dots on its black head, has returned to the garden each year, making 2024 its fourth consecutive visit.

“The bird first appeared on Nov. 2 in 2023 and returned on the Nov. 1, 2024 — almost the same date, sticking to the same schedule,” Moditha told Mongabay, expressing his joy in welcoming back his feathered friend, now affectionately named Barat, ancient India’s Sanskrit name, where the species migrates to Sri Lanka from.

The Asian paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi) is a visually stunning bird found in almost all of South Asia and parts of Southeast Asia. Two subspecies are found in Sri Lanka: the Indian subspecies T. p. paradisi, in which adult males are white (juveniles are rufous and subsequently take a white hue) sporting long, flowing tail feathers while the females are always rufous with shorter tails; and the T. p. ceylonensis subspecies, which is rufous in color and breeds in Sri Lanka…..| read more on Mongabay