On July 21 the Ministry of Digital Development and Innovative Technologies of the Kyrgyz Republic puts into circulation a Kyrgyz Express Post postage stamp: "Bird of the Year (VII). The Asian paradise flycatcher".
The new stamp issue from KEP in the "Bird of the Year" series is dedicated to the Asian paradise flycatcher, which was chosen as the Bird of the Year 2025 by the Kyrgyz Wildlife Conservation Society (KWCS).
The Asian paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi ) is a migratory bird of the Monarchidae family. The Kyrgyz Republic is home to the subspecies Terpsiphone paradisi leucogaster.
The Asian Paradise Flycatcher gets its name from its elegant appearance combined with its characteristic manner of catching insects in short, maneuverable flights. The bird has a distinctive look: a pointed crest, a broad, strong beak, and a long, graduated tail. While its body size is comparable to a sparrow, its long tail makes these birds appear larger, especially the males. As their name suggests, Asian paradise flycatchers are insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of insects typically caught in flight.
In Kyrgyzstan, the Asian paradise flycatcher is a rare bird, mainly found in the Western Tian Shan mountains, and possibly in the western parts of the Talas and Kyrgyz Ranges. The Kyrgyz Republic marks the southeastern boundary of the species' distribution range. The birds typically inhabit deciduous forests and orchards along the banks of natural lakes and mountain rivers. The species is protected in the Sary-Chelek and Padysh-Ata Nature Reserves. The Asian paradise flycatcher was included in the Kyrgyz Republic Red Data Book in 1985.
As always, KEP expresses gratitude to KWCS and especially to its chairman, Sergey Kulagin, for valuable consulting assistance in the preparation of this issue of postage stamps. The charitable proceeds from the sale of this KEP stamp will be transferred to the fund of KWCS.
For this stamp, KEP also issues a postcard, which is used to realize a maximum card.
