“Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai” - Asian Paradise Flycatcher

（陕西省级保护）

(Shaanxi Province Level Protected Animal)

寿带鸟（学名:Terpsiphone paradisi）又名绶带鸟、练鹊﹑长尾鹟﹑一枝花等异名。雄鸟有两种色形，体长连尾羽约30厘米，头﹑颈和羽冠均具深蓝辉光，身体其馀部分白色而具黑色羽干纹。中央两根尾羽长达身体的四﹑五倍，最主要特征是雄性有着非常长的两条中央尾羽，像绶带一样。它体色带有金属闪光的蓝黑色，头顶伸出一簇冠羽；两只寿带拖着曼妙的长尾翩翩起舞，飘然若仙，形影不离，于是便联想到它们是“梁山伯与祝英台”的化身，是幸福和长寿的象征。食物中几乎全为昆虫，还是森林中非常好的消灭害虫的能手。

Asian Paradise Flycatcher (Scientific Latin Name: Terpsiphone paradisi) is also known as paradise flycatcher, practice magpie, long-tailed flycatcher, “a spray of flower”, etc. The length of the male is about 30cm including tail feathers. Except for its dark blue head, neck and crest, the bird is white with black feather rachis. The two central tail feathers are four or five times the length of the body. The most important feature of the male is two long central tail feathers, like a ribbon.Its body color is a metallic flash of blue and black, and a tuft of crown feathers topped the head. The twoAsian Paradise Flycatchers are always together, dancing with their graceful long tails like fairies, so people regard them as the embodiment of "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai", standing for happiness and longevity.They mostly eat insects and are very good experts at destroying forest pests.