Restless Flycatcher

Overview

The restless flycatcher, also known as the razor grinder or scissors grinder, is a passerine bird in the family Monarchidae native to eastern and southern Australia. It is a small to medium-sized bird with colouring similar to that of the willie wagtail.

Identification

• About 20 cm long with a glossy dark blue crest, grey-blue back, and white underparts.
• Distinguished from the similar willie wagtail by its head crest, white eyebrow, slenderer body shape, and lack of a black throat.
• Known for its distinctive call, which has earned it the colloquial names 'razor grinder' or 'scissors grinder'.

Habitat

Found throughout east, south-east, and south-west Australia, including areas from Cairns in Far North Queensland to west of Central Queensland, most of New South Wales, Victoria, southern South Australia, and south-west of Western Australia. Its habitat usually consists of open and wooded forests, river red gums near water, inland and coastal scrubs, and some semi-urban environments. During winter, many southern and south-eastern populations move further north.

Diet

Feeds on insects, spiders, and centipedes, often foraging alone or in pairs. It frequently hovers with its head and tail pointed downwards to pick insects off leaves and rarely goes to the ground, preferring to hunt from the mid-canopy.

Did you know?

The species is colloquially known as the 'dishwasher' or 'dishlicker' due to its unusual call. Its specific epithet, inquieta, is derived from the Latin word inquietus, meaning 'restless'.