Asian Brown Flycatcher
Muscicapa dauurica
北灰鹟
Introduction
A small passerine bird in the flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is an insectivorous species that breeds in Japan, eastern Siberia, and the Himalayas. This bird is migratory, spending the winter in tropical southern Asia from southern India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia. It inhabits open woodland and cultivated areas.
Description
This species measures 13 cm (5.1 in) long including the cocked tail. It resembles the larger spotted flycatcher in shape but has a relatively longer tail. The dark bill is relatively large and broad-based. Adults have grey-brown upperparts, which become greyer as the plumage ages, and whitish underparts with brown-tinged flanks. Young birds have scaly brown upperparts, head, and breast.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds across Japan, eastern Siberia, and the Himalayas. Migrates to winter in tropical southern Asia from southern India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia. It is an extremely rare vagrant to Western Europe, with accepted records from Britain, Denmark, and Sweden, plus unproven claims from Ireland, the Faroe Islands, and Norway.
Behavior & Ecology
Common bird found in open woodland and cultivated areas. It nests in a tree hole, laying four eggs which are incubated by the female. The male sings a simple melodic song during courtship. This species is parasitized by the chewing louse Philopterus davuricae.
Culture
A rare vagrant to Western Europe that generates significant birdwatching interest. The 2007 Flamborough Head, Britain sighting attracted hundreds of birdwatchers during its brief stay.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Muscicapa
- eBird Code
- asbfly
Subspecies (3)
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Muscicapa dauurica dauurica
breeds Siberia and southeastern Russia (from Yenisey River eastward to Amurland and Ussuriland and Sakhalin Island), northern Mongolia, northeastern China, North Korea, the southern Kuril Islands, and Japan; winters in southern China (Yunnan, Guangdong, and Hainan), Taiwan (scarce), southeastern Asia (westward to western Myanmar), Philippines, and the Greater Sundas
-
Muscicapa dauurica poonensis
breeds northern Pakistan to Bhutan; also central and southern India; winters to Sri Lanka, and Andaman and Nicobar islands
-
Muscicapa dauurica siamensis
southern Myanmar (northern Tenasserim), western and northwestern Thailand, and southern Vietnam (southern Annam)
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.