How to distinguish Indian from Blyth's Paradise-Flycatcher? (1 Viewer)

[Jim M.]

A fairly recent split now recognized by both IOC and eBird with what appears to be an overlap zone at least in eastern India and Bhutan. Cannot find any information online about distinguishing the two. The 2019 Birds of Bhutan & the Eastern Himalayas guide doesn't recognize the split. Anyone have information about distinguishing Indian (Terpsiphone paradisi) from Blyth's (Terpsiphone affinis) in the field (or if it is possible)?

 

[foresttwitcher]

In "All the Birds of the World" Indian (T. paradisi), is shown as having a clear distinction between the black throat and pale chest/belly whereas Oriental / Indian (T. affinis) has the black / dark grey extending much further down over the chest belly. This is the case for the male rufous morph but still apparent in the illustrations of the female (and presumably white morph also). The crest is also shown as longer.

Also check out the Opus articles.

 

[Brian J Small]

Brief hints here - https://www.researchgate.net/public...siphone_affinis_in_southern_West_Bengal_India

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

There seems to be some confusion here which likely caused by different taxonomic treatments? The only form that is resident in e Nepal, Bhutan, ne India , e Bangladesh and n Myanmar is saturatior which is treated as a ssp. of Blyth's (aka Oriental) Paradise Flycatcher by the IOC with which it is much closer morphologically. There are distinct morphological differences (all age/sex classes) from Indian which can be seen clearly in this individual photo'd in Telengana in 2021 https://ebird.org/checklist/S85377788? _gl=1*1s885td*_ga*MTI4NDE3MTMzOC4xNjcxNDMwOTIz*_ga_QR4NVXZ8BM*MTcwNzY3MjQ2Ny4xMzQ5LjEuMTcwNzY3NTk2MS41Mi4wLjA.&_ga=2.51794272.857238348.1699806633-1284171338.1671430923 this individual is saturatior based on combination of buff lower underparts and rufous-washed vent.

For taxonomy see Monarchs – IOC World Bird List

Indian and Blyth's are readily separated in the field with multiple recent cases of vagrancy of Indian to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Here, one of the recent Thai individuals ML559772871 - Indian Paradise-Flycatcher - Macaulay Library

Have done a bit more digging and taken a closer look at range limits using eBird and it seems the eastern limit of Indian PF is in s Sikkim, s Bhutan and e Bangladesh while the western limit of Blyth's PF is in cs Bhutan, w Assam, c Megalaya and e Bangladesh. There are possible areas of contact in both Bhutan and Bangladesh. This is somewhat at odds with ranges given by Rasmussen and the IOC.

Grahame

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

A fairly recent split now recognized by both IOC and eBird with what appears to be an overlap zone at least in eastern India and Bhutan. Cannot find any information online about distinguishing the two. The 2019 Birds of Bhutan & the Eastern Himalayas guide doesn't recognize the split. Anyone have information about distinguishing Indian (Terpsiphone paradisi) from Blyth's (Terpsiphone affinis) in the field (or if it is possible)?

Apologies Jim, got sidetracked on species range limits when your question was specifically concerning clues in distinguishing the two species apart. White morph males (which predominate) of Blyth's ssp. saturatior have a short, flattened crest while the upperparts are heavily streaked black versus long, upright crest in Indian and very finely streaked upperparts. When it comes to rufous morph, lower underparts are buffer, vent is rufous while upperparts are duller than Indian PF. Same differences in crest apply-see link to Telangana bird in previous post.

Grahame

 

[Jim M.]

Thanks all!

Btw, by "overlap zone" I just meant an area where both species have been seen--not necessarily where they are resident or breed. And my only evidence for that was looking at scattered records on the eBird distribution maps. That is why I said "appears" to be an overlap zone.