A
rare and beautiful bird
The
Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone corvina or "vev"
in Creole) is the symbol of La Digue, one granitic islands of Seychelles.
Apart from a few birds on neighbouring Praslin, all the the world's
population of about seventy-five examples are found there.
The
all-black plumage of the male bird gives it the local name, meaning
"widow". In bright sunlight, it has a deep blue sheen, but it
is the long tail streamers which make it quite unmistakable. The female
is chestnut above and white below, with a black face and crown.
Breeding
takes place during the north-west monsoon, when a cup-shaped nest is
build near the end of a branch. Usually just one egg is laid. Chicks are
reared by both males and females.
A
reserve in La Digue has been created to help protect the bird, which
once had a much wider distribution.
The
name of "Corvina" was chosen to reflect the company's commitment
to the sustainable economic and social development of Seychelles, while respecting the
environment and delicate ecology of the islands.