This is a story about Indian paradise flycatcher

This is a story about Indian paradise flycatcher 

That was a hot and humid day of mid May. I was walking through the Mango orchard near our locality. Suddenly a bird with ribbon like tail fly pass me. That beautiful bird was Indian paradise flycatcher.

Indian paradise flycatcher (male)

The first time you see the mature gentleman in full regalia, you will be amazed totally. This is a graceful looking flycatcher and the adult male sport a long ribbon like tail. They perched upright at the edge of a branch, often near water. They are silvery-white bird, raffish inky blue-black crest and head, black eyes ringed with neon, a spiky black moustache, and two 45-50 cm long white streamers in its tail. 

The females are cinnamon above with a grayish throat, a shorter tail, and they lack the male’s blue eye ring.

Indian paradise flycatcher (female)

It flies with all the grace of an Olympic rhythmic gymnast, the long tail trailing loops and scoops and figures of eight as the bird darts after insects.

Their breeding season from May to July. I've spotted two nest for their breeding. Their cup like nest made up of twigs and spider web. This spider webs give elasticity to the nest which is required for extra space during hatching. They use spider egg sac to build their nest. Spider egg sacs used as insulator to retain heat helping in hatching eggs.

The Nest: Made of Twigs, Spider web and Spider egg sac

They are monogamous in nature. The pairs remain faithful to each other and the female lays three to four eggs in the tidy little nest. They usually make their nest  near that of a Drongo for protection from prey bird. 

The male: Doing his duty

Both male and female take part in nest-building, incubation, brooding and feeding of the young. The incubation period lasts 14 to 16 days and the nestling period 9 to 12 days.

The hungry chicks waiting for their parents

The father: Feeding his baby

Both parents take care of incubation and bringing up the fledglings. Incubation lasts a fortnight, and the fledglings are ready to leave home in about a month.

Have a watch the video here to see their different activities.