Grey-streaked Flycatcher

Overview

The grey-streaked flycatcher, also known as the grey-spotted flycatcher, is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus Muscicapa within the Old World flycatcher family. First described by Robert Swinhoe in 1861, this species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Slender, long-winged bird measuring 13 to 15 cm in length.
• Primarily grey-brown above and white below, with the breast and flanks heavily streaked in grey.
• Features a narrow white bar on the wing, a pale patch between the bill and eye, and a white eye-ring surrounding a large eye.
• Black bill and feet; adult males and females are alike, while juveniles possess white spots and dark scaling on the upperparts.

Habitat

This species breeds in vast coniferous forests across north-east China, North Korea, and south-east Siberia, including Sakhalin and Kamchatka. It migrates through eastern and southern China, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, while wintering in forests, forest edges, and open country with scattered trees in Borneo, the Philippines, Palau, eastern Indonesia, and New Guinea. Vagrant records exist in Singapore, Vietnam, Alaska, and Australia.

Diet

The bird perches in open areas to wait for passing insects, then flies out up to 20 metres to catch them before returning to its perch to eat them.