Habitat
On breeding grounds mature deciduous or mixed forest and plantations on low hills and mountains. From sea-level - 100 m. On the wintering grounds various forest habitats, including mangroves, up to 700 m. On migration, open woodland, suburban parks and gardens in lowlands.
China (mainland) (NB), Hong Kong (China) (NB), Indonesia (NB), Japan (B), Laos (NB) (P), Malaysia (NB), North Korea (B), Philippines (B) (NB), Singapore (B), South Korea (B), Taiwan (China) (B), Thailand (NB), Vietnam (NB) (P).
Vagrant to Russia (Asian), Russia (European).
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010) and decreasing.
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone atrocaudata) [XC156131]
by Frank Lambert from Oku area, Kunigami, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan (song)
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone atrocaudata) [XC285929]
by Peter Boesman from Mi-ike, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan (song)
Subspecies
Has been suggested as being conspecific with Indian Paradise-flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi), as they hybridize, but interbreeding very limited as ranges barely overlap. Further study is needed.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
atrocaudata (Eyton, 1839) - Breeds central and southern Korea, central and southern Japan and Taiwan. Non-breeding south-eastern Asia and Sumatra.
illex Bangs, 1901 - Ryukyu Is. Non-breeding presumably south-eastern Asia.
periophthalmica (Ogilvie-Grant, 1895) - Breeds Lanyu I (off south-eastern Taiwan) and Batan Is (extreme northern Philippines). Non-breeding northern and western Philippines (Luzon, Mindoro, Palawan).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet