Capturing the pretty little paradise flycatcher in all its glory

Do the birds take a bath?

Right next to the bustling Kochi, there is a small green paradise hidden near HMT Kalamassery. This patch of greenery is blessed with a tiny pond inside it. If you watch closely, you might get lucky enough to spot Indian paradise flycatchers, touted as a beauty among birds swinging in here for a dip. A chance to capture this enchanting sight makes this place a favourite haunt of wildlife photographers.

Capturing the birdbath

The pretty little paradise flycatchers' bath time is a sight to behold. At first, it will quietly settle on the branches near the pond. And before you know it, will dive into the water like a bullet. After one dip, it will again go back and settle on the branches. This will be done in batches and then it will fly back to the forest. They are usually spotted in the evenings.

Describing the Indian paradise flycatcher

In Malayalam, it is called Nakamohan. They are migratory flycatcher birds. You can see them between April and October in Kerala and are usually seen in forest areas and those places populated with trees. It is easy to differentiate between the males, females and young males. A fully grown adult bird will be white and its feathers will be 1 and a half ft long. But the young male birds will have bronze chests and long feathers.

Female birds will have bronze chests but won't have long feathers.