Chestnut-capped Flycatcher Erythrocercus mccallii Scientific name definitions

10 cm; 6–8 g. Small flycatcher with short crest and bright chestnut crown and tail. Nominate race has forehead to centre of crown bright chestnut, finely streaked with buff; hindcrown and nape to scapulars and lower back mouse-grey; rump grey, tinged with cinnamon, becoming more heavily cinnamon or chestnut on uppertail-coverts and tail; upper­wing, including lesser and median upperwing-coverts, like back, the coverts narrowly fringed rufous-buff, greater coverts dark brown, fringed rusty-buff; flight-feathers dark brown, finely edged warm buff; lores to cheek as crown or slightly paler, with fine pale tips, ear-coverts greyish, finely streaked whitish; chin to breast warm buff or rufous-buff, breast side tinged greyish, belly and flanks whitish, undertail-coverts buffish; iris reddish-brown; upper mandible dark brown, lower mandible whitish-horn; legs brown or brownish-flesh. Sexes alike. Juvenile is as adult, but upperparts and edges of wing-coverts and secondaries warmer olive, throat pale brown. Race <em>nigeriae</em> has slightly darker rufous crown than nominate, and is more heavily tinged olive-brown on upperparts and whiter on throat ; <em>congicus</em> is as nominate but more heavily olive-brown above, deeper chestnut on forecrown, and throat deeper rufous.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Food mostly small invertebrates, including ants and small bees (Hymenoptera), termites (Isoptera), beetles (Coleoptera), grasshoppers (Orthoptera), cicadas (Cicadoidea), spiders (Araneae), adult and larval moths (Lepidoptera); most prey 5–15 mm, but also takes larger insects (up to 30 mm). Usually in pairs or in small flocks and in mixed-species flocks. Actively forages in undergrowth and canopy of trees; most prey items taken from foliage. Hops along branches with horizontal stance, small crest raised, and dislodges insects by flicking wings and making wide sweeps with tail spread; also makes short dashing flights in pursuit of insects.

Song a rapid, high-pitched warble or twitter, beginning with individual notes running into a trill, “pit pit pit-pit-pit pit-ptit-ptilililililili” or “ptit ptit-ptit-ptit ptilululululu”; in defence of territory sings almost continuously without pause. Members of foraging flock utter almost continuous series of thin squeaky notes and soft “it” or “chip” contact notes, which may be continued into short, tuneless but sibilant song.