Molecular phylogeny of the Indian Ocean Terpsiphone paradise flycatchers: Undetected evolutionary diversity revealed amongst island populations

► Terpsiphone colonised the Indian Ocean in the last 2 Mya via ⩾2 independent events. ► We identify six ESUs worthy of management as if they were separate species. ► Three T. mutata ESUs are not entirely predicted by taxonomy, distance or island age.