Stats

Lifespan: 5-10 yrs
Size: Small
Diet: Insectivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: Pair
Biome: Tropical dry forest
Range: Madagascar
Movement: Flight
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Camouflage
Status: Rare

About

A striking bird endemic to Madagascar and nearby islands, where breeding males grow central tail streamers up to three times their body length. The glossy blue-black head and brilliant rufous wings contrast sharply against the white breast.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A small clutch of speckled eggs is incubated in a cup nest, turned and kept warm by the parent.
2.
hatchling
A pink, blind hatchling is fed by its parents in the nest, gaping its bill at every visit.
3.
juvenile
A feathered juvenile fledges from the nest, learning to fly and to forage close to its parents.
4.
adult
Fully grown with adult plumage and song.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Monarchidae
Genus: Terpsiphone
Species: Terpsiphone mutata