Unlimited edition. 18 x 24 inch, museum-quality poster on matte paper.

What a stunner the black paradise-flycatcher is! The color column is dominated by indigo, deep violet, and a hint of burgundy, all set off by that bar of baby blue. Apparently, the bird’s voice is as rich as its colors. In fact, the black paradise-flycatcher’s scientific binomial, Terpsiphone atrocaudata, translates as “delightful voice with a black tail.”

Perhaps that combination of beautiful voice and appearance inform the remarkably poetic Japanese name for the species, sankōchō? In Japan, the bird’s call is described as tsuki-hi-hoshi, hoi-hoi-hoi, which translates to “Moon-Sun-Stars”; hence, sankōchō, which means “bird of three lights.”

Sadly, the bird of three lights is experiencing dramatic population declines in recent decades. Ornithologists believe the species’ predicament can be mostly attributed to forest loss in Japan, as the species prefers shady, mature deciduous or mixed forest habitats that are dwindling as agriculture and industry expand.

Note: These archival poster prints feature rich, appealing colors. I encourage customers to take care in handling them until they are framed/protected for display; the darker colors on the matte paper can be scratched. They ship rolled, so customers need to flatten them before framing (or have their framer do so).

Charitable Sales Model: Whenever one of these poster prints is purchased, a charitable contribution equal to 10% of the print’s cost (or $3.60) is made to a nonprofit working to tackle environmental or social challenges. Read more about my charitable sales model here.