Hybridization in paradise flycatchers (Terpsiphone Rufiventer, T. batesi and T. viridis) in Ondzala National Park, Northern Congo

Abstract

Dowsett-Lemaire, F. 1999. Hybridization in paradise flycatchers (Terpsiphone rufiventer; I: batesi and I: viridis). in Odzala National Park, Northern Congo. Ostrich 70 (2); 123–126 The Redbellied and Bates's Paradise Flycatchers Terpsiphone rufiventer and I: batesi are widely distributed in the rain forests of the Guineo-Congolian Region. They have similar ecological requirements, usually identical songs and in Gabon, Congo and parts of Cameroon at least appear to be mainly allopatric. However, the two species meet in the forest/savanna mosaic of NW Congo (Odzala) where T. rufiventer inhabits only swamp forest and T: batesi both swamp and closed-canopy dryland forest. Eight of 23 birds (35%) occupying territories in swamp forest were found to be hybrids. Territories are defended against congeners as well as conspecifics. In dryland forest, however, some T: batesi have developed a very different song-type which is not understood by birds from swamp forest. It is possible that T: batesi came into contact with T. rufiventer at Odzala through the current expansion of the dryland forest. One of the hybrid males sang like African Paradise Flycatcher I: viridis, occupied a territory at the edge of swamp forest (a situation more typical of I: viridis) andMayhave been a multiple hybrid.