Rusty-tailed Flycatcher

Overview

The rusty-tailed flycatcher (Ficedula ruficauda) is a small passerine bird in the flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• 14 cm (5.5 in) in length and weighs 11–16 g (0.39–0.56 oz).
• The sexes have similar plumage.

Habitat

Found mainly in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent and some parts of southwest India, as well as pockets of Central Asia including Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Central Asian populations are partially migratory, moving to India as far as the southwest Indian coast along the Arabian Sea, to Karnataka and Kerala, while populations across the lower Himalayas remain year-round.

Did you know?

A 2016 molecular phylogenetic study found that the species was basal to other Muscicapini and proposed it be placed in its own monotypic genus, eventually named Ripleyornis after the initial suggestion of Ripleyia was found to be preoccupied.