Passeriformes / Stenostiridae / Culicicapa
Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher
Culicicapa ceylonensis · 方尾鹟
Introduction
A small flycatcher-like bird in the family Stenostiridae, found in tropical Asia. It inhabits forested habitats, often joining mixed-species foraging flocks. Distinctive traits include a square crest, grey hood, and yellow underparts.
Description
Length is 12–13 cm (4.7–5.1 in). Features a squarish grey head, canary yellow belly, and yellowish-green upperparts. The bill is very flat, appearing as an equilateral triangle from above, and is fringed with long rictal bristles. Sexes are indistinguishable in plumage. Populations vary slightly in color shades and dimensions across subspecies.
Identification
Key marks include the square grey crest and bright yellow underparts. Perches in a very upright posture. Forages with active, flycatcher-like sallies. Vocalizations are loud and distinct from typical Old World flycatchers.
Distribution & Habitat
Range extends from Pakistan, Central India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia and southern China. Breeds in upland to montane oak and broadleaved forests. Nominate subspecies breeds in peninsular India (Western Ghats, Nilgiris, Eastern Ghats) and Sri Lanka. Subspecies calochrysea breeds along the Himalayas to Myanmar and Thailand, wintering in southern India. Subspecies antioxantha ranges from southern Burma through Malaysia to Java and Bali. Island populations exist on Sumbawa, Flores, Lombok, and Sumba. Many populations are resident; Himalayan birds are partial migrants wintering in peninsular India, sometimes in arid habitats. Occurs up to and above 2,000 m ASL.
Behavior & Ecology
Insectivorous, making aerial sallies from low perches under the canopy. Often forages in pairs or joins mixed-species flocks. Active and noisy throughout the day at all forest levels. Breeds in summer (April to June in India). The female builds an unlined cup nest bound by cobwebs, often covered by moss, placed against mossy tree trunks, on rocks, or mud bank ledges. Clutch size is three or four eggs. Brood parasitism by Hodgson's hawk-cuckoo has been observed in northern Borneo.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Stenostiridae
- Genus
- Culicicapa
Vocalizations
Subspecies (5)
-
Culicicapa ceylonensis antioxantha
Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Borneo
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.
