Narcissus Flycatcher

Overview

The narcissus flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina) is a passerine bird belonging to the Old World flycatcher family. It is a highly migratory species native to the East Palearctic, with a wide range extending from northern islands to mainland Asia and Southeast Asia.

Identification

• Males in breeding plumage display a black crown and mantle, a bright orange throat, an orange-yellow eyebrow, and black wings with a white wing patch.
• Females are dissimilar to males, featuring buff-brown coloration, rusty-colored wings, and a two-toned eyering.
• Breeding males sing repeated melodious whistles.
• Non-breeding males exhibit varying levels of yellow plumage.

Habitat

This species lives primarily in deciduous woodlands and is native to the East Palearctic, ranging from Sakhalin and Japan through Korea, mainland China, and Taiwan. It winters in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Borneo, and is recorded as a vagrant from Alaska to Australia.

Diet

The narcissus flycatcher primarily feeds on insects.

Did you know?

The bird's name is a direct reference to the yellow colour of many varieties of the narcissus flower.