Dull Flycatcher Myiagra hebetior Scientific name definitions

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Dull Flycatcher (Mussau)

15 cm. Male has plumage entirely black, upperparts glossed iridescent navy-blue; iris dark brown; maxilla slaty or pale blue, tip and mandible black, interior of mouth orange; legs slaty black. Distinguished from very similar M. alecto by smaller size and more compact build, appearing larger-headed with steeper forehead and more rounded crown, also orange (not orange-red) interior of mouth. Female has crown to below eye and to hindneck dull black, upperparts rufous-brown, blackish wingtips, tail blackish brown, throat and underparts grey-tinged white. Immature resembles female, but has brown crown, chest rufous-washed, bill yellowish at base.

Dull Flycatcher (Velvet)

15–16 cm; 18·5–21·5 g (New Britain). Male is all black, upperparts glossed iridescent purplish-tinged navy-blue; iris dark brown; maxilla slaty or pale blue, tip and mandible black, interior of mouth orange; legs slaty black. Very like M. hebetior, but plumage slightly more purplish-tinged. Female is distinctive, having top of head dark ashy grey, upperparts dull dark brownish chestnut, wings and tail dull brownish black, throat and breast ash-grey, centre of belly whitish, flanks rusty grey-brown. Juvenile has rufous wash on underparts.

Dull Flycatcher (Djaul)

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Dull Flycatcher (Mussau)

Close to M. alecto (1 Fabre, P.H., Moltensen, M., Fjeldså, J., Irestedt, M., Lessard, J.P. and Jønsson, K.A. (2014). Multiple waves of colonization by monarch flycatchers (Myiagra, Monarchidae) across the Indo-Pacific and their implications for coexistence and speciation. J. Biogeogr. 41(2): 274–286. Close ), and until recently considered conspecific with M. eichhorni and M. cervinicolor (see both species); all four sometimes placed in a separate genus Piezorhynchus. Monotypic.

Dull Flycatcher (Velvet)

Until recently treated as conspecific with M. hebetior (which see), and hitherto as conspecific with M. cervinicolor, but differs from latter in characters given under that species (which see). Differs from former in its larger size (mean male tail 71.5 mm vs 60.7 (2 Salomonsen, F. (1964). Some remarkable new birds from Dyaul Island, Bismarck Archipelago, with zoogeographical notes. Biol. Sk. Kong. Danske Vid. Selsk. 14(1): 1–37, pls. 1–2. Close ); allow 2); and (in female) dark grey vs blue-black crown and head sides (3); dull grey vs creamy throat and breast, plus mid-grey vs creamy-buff belly (3); darker tail (1); and (in male) slightly more purplish-black plumage (ns[1]). Monotypic.

Dull Flycatcher (Djaul)

Until recently treated as conspecific with M. hebetior (which see) and hitherto with M. eichhorni. Differs from M. hebetior in its much larger size (mean male tail 77.3 mm vs 60.7 (2 Salomonsen, F. (1964). Some remarkable new birds from Dyaul Island, Bismarck Archipelago, with zoogeographical notes. Biol. Sk. Kong. Danske Vid. Selsk. 14(1): 1–37, pls. 1–2. Close ); allow 3); and in female in pale grey vs blue-black crown and head sides (3); brighter rufous upperparts and tail (1); and greyer underparts (1). Differs from M. eichhorni in its larger size (mean male tail 77.3 mm vs 71.5 (2 Salomonsen, F. (1964). Some remarkable new birds from Dyaul Island, Bismarck Archipelago, with zoogeographical notes. Biol. Sk. Kong. Danske Vid. Selsk. 14(1): 1–37, pls. 1–2. Close ); allow 2); and in female in its pale grey vs dark grey crown and head sides (2); white vs dull grey throat and breast, with greyish-white vs mid-grey belly (3); and brighter rufous upperparts and tail (1). Monotypic.

Dull Flycatcher (Mussau)

St Matthias, in N Bismarck Archipelago.

Dull Flycatcher (Velvet)

New Hanover, New Ireland and New Britain (Bismarck Archipelago).

Dull Flycatcher (Djaul)

Djaul I, off NW New Ireland (Bismarck Archipelago).

Dull Flycatcher (Mussau)

Dull Flycatcher (Velvet)

Dull Flycatcher (Djaul)

Dull Flycatcher (Mussau)

Dull Flycatcher (Velvet)

Dull Flycatcher (Djaul)

Dull Flycatcher (Mussau)

Insectivorous. Forages in shady understorey, by gleaning and snatching insects. Usually seen singly or in pairs. Rather shy and wary; typically, when alarmed, keeps very low in dense vegetation and thickets, the head feathers raised in a small crest.

Dull Flycatcher (Velvet)

Insectivorous. Forages in forest understorey, by gleaning and snatching insects. A rather shy and wary species, males observed far more frequently than are females. Typically, when alarmed, keeps very low in dense vegetation and thickets, head feathers raised in a small crest. Often joins mixed-species feeding flocks with Northern Fantail (Rhipidura isura) and Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis).

Dull Flycatcher (Djaul)

Insectivorous. Forages in understorey, by gleaning and snatching insects. Little known; behaviour presumably much as that of M. hebetior and M. eichhornii.

Dull Flycatcher (Mussau)

Series of 5–6 loud ringing whistles each of which increases in volume and sometimes also in pitch, and occasionally preceded by a short warble; also a fast series of 8–11 “see see see” notes on descending scale. Also emits short metallic notes followed by upslurs or whiplash notes, “tzu tzu whit whit whit, tsip-tsip-toweee”, and scolds with loud buzzing notes and quieter, softer “schrr” notes, sometimes repeated in series (3 Gregory, P. (2017). Birds of New Guinea. Including Bismarck Archipelago and Bougainville. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ).

Dull Flycatcher (Velvet)

Song-like vocalizations include a distinctive rapid, flat, scolding and nasal series, “chew-chew-chew-chew-chew-chew”, vaguely reminiscent of galloping-horse rhythm; a long series of descending quavering whistles; and a series of 4–7 ringing fluid whistles, “fwit-fwit-fwit-fwit”. Various scolds include a loud harsh “trrr” and quieter notes, sometimes given in series (3 Gregory, P. (2017). Birds of New Guinea. Including Bismarck Archipelago and Bougainville. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ).

Dull Flycatcher (Djaul)

Song-like vocalizations include a long series of descending quavering whistles and a series of 4–7 ringing fluid whistles, “fwit-fwit-fwit-fwit”. Various scolds include a loud harsh “trrr” and quieter notes, sometimes in series (3 Gregory, P. (2017). Birds of New Guinea. Including Bismarck Archipelago and Bougainville. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ). Not known to differ substantially from M. eichhornii.

Dull Flycatcher (Mussau)

Dull Flycatcher (Velvet)

Very poorly known. Nest reported as being a cup similar to that of M. alecto, draped with moss, and often sited on a large leaf 0·5–1 m above ground. No other information available.

Dull Flycatcher (Djaul)

Dull Flycatcher (Mussau)

VULNERABLE. Restricted-range species: present in St. Matthias Islands EBA. Confined largely to old-growth habitats on a single island of less than 400 km² in extent. Mussau (St Matthias) is undergoing rapid rates of logging and deforestation, and this and other forest species are consequently in decline. This flycatcher’s population is small, currently estimated to lie in the range of 2500–9999 mature individuals. Further, it appears to be disadvantaged by the presence of large areas of degraded habitat, in addition to which it may be threatened by introduced predators. Research is needed in order to determine this species’ true population size and surveys combined with interviews with local villagers are required to determine population trends. Accurate knowledge of its habitat requirements would be helpful, too, as would an up-to-date survey of remaining area of forest and rates of clearance across the island. Publicity of this species’ range and status would be enhanced by public-awareness discussions.

Dull Flycatcher (Velvet)

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Restricted-range species: present in New Britain and New Ireland EBA. Reasonably common. Although most lowland forest within this species’ range has been logged or is under logging concessions, the same does not apply at higher altitudes. Nevertheless, population may be declining; this species is potentially at risk on New Britain, where forest clearance for the planting of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) has been particularly severe.

Dull Flycatcher (Djaul)

VULNERABLE. This poorly known species has a small population restricted to a single island, where it is largely confined to old-growth habitats. Djaul I is just 165 km² in extent, and this flycatcher’s population has been estimated at 2500–9999 mature individuals. Numbers are thought to be declining, as its preferred old-growth habitat is being lost at a rapid rate through logging and deforestation. Research is needed in order to determine the species’ true population size and population trends, for which targeted surveys, as well as interviews of local villagers, are required. In addition, its precise habitat requirements should be determined and its numbers monitored at sites across the island. In one fairly recent survey, 18 individuals were recorded during 22 hours of observation in secondary forest with varying levels of degradation.