Ferruginous Flycatcher Muscicapa ferruginea Scientific name definitions

12–13 cm; 9–16·7 g. Small to medium-sized, broad-headed flycatcher with short bill. Has head mostly grey, upperparts to upper­wing and lower back dark rust-brown, rump and side of tail bright rufous-orange ; crown and face greyer, lores pale orange-buffish, distinct whitish eyering, indistinct whitish or buff submoustachial stripe and dark malar stripe; rufous-chestnut tips of greater upperwing-coverts (forming wingbar) and edges of tertials; chin, throat and neck side white (partial collar), breast light rufous , mottled or streaked greyish, becoming more plainly rufous-orange on lower breast, flanks and undertail-coverts, centre of belly whitish; iris deep brown; bill blackish, base of lower mandible yellow, pinkish-yellow or fleshy-orange; legs pale pinkish to pinkish-brown. Sexes alike. Juvenile is similar to adult, but heavily spotted pale buff on head, larger pale orange-buff spots with dark fringes on mantle, back and scapulars, rufous-orange fringes of greater coverts, tertials and secondaries, mottled with dark fringes on throat and breast, paler orange on rest of underparts.

C & E Himalayas from C Nepal E to NE India (Assam hills and Arunachal Pradesh S to Mizoram), W & N Myanmar, C & S China (SE Tibet E to S Gansu, S Shaanxi, Sichuan, and W Yunnan), Taiwan, and N Vietnam (W Tonkin); non-breeding Hainan, SE Asia (S parts), Sumatra, W Java, N Borneo, and Philippines.

Humid broadleaf forest , with preference for oaks (Quercus); also in fir (Abies) forest in Himalayas, and in dense mixed lowland jungle in NE India; breeds between 1800 m and 3300 m in Himalayas, above 1200 m in NE Indian hills, to 2135 m in S China, and at 1200–2400 m in Taiwan. In non-breeding areas occurs in mature and secondary forests in lowland and lower montane zone, to 1500 m in S Peninsular Malaysia (more often on slopes than in lowlands), between 500 m and 1500 m in Greater Sundas, and to 2400 m in Philippines.

Present in Taiwan throughout year. Elsewhere migratory; non-breeding quarters in S Thailand and Malay Peninsula, C & S Vietnam (S Annam and Cochinchina), Hainan, also Sumatra, N Borneo and W Java, and Philippines (Luzon, Mindoro, Palawan, Sibutu and Panay). Present in breeding areas Apr–Oct, passage migrant (to 2000 m) through N & S Thailand, present in wintering area in S Malay Peninsula and Philippines from early Oct (occasionally mid-Sept) to late Mar, occasionally to late Apr; passage migrant in SE China (Guangdong) Mar and Apr.

Diet not well studied, but includes small invertebrates and larvae. Usually solitary, shy or unobtrusive, and generally quiet; may be partly crepuscular. Forages in lower and middle levels of forest trees, often in small clearings and glades (treefall areas). Hawks insects from exposed branch in typical aerial pursuit , including acrobatic turns and short hovers, often returning to same perch ; this frequently repeated for several hours.

Song several harsh or shrill notes, “tsit-tittu-tittu”, first note shorter than others, and followed by a series of high-pitched whistles; also a series of several short high-pitched notes followed by 2 or 3 shrill notes; also a 3-note refrain, occasionally repeated. Generally silent in winter.

Season at least Jun and Jul. Nest a cup-shaped structure made of moss, plant fibres and lichen, usually camouflaged on moss-covered branch or trunk of tree 3–15 m from ground. Clutch 2–3 eggs; incubation by both sexes; no information on duration of incubation and fledging periods.

Not globally threatened. Uncommon or scarce in much of range; locally common in Bhutan, and fairly common in Taiwan ; uncommon to fairly common in N Vietnam; rare in China, Laos, W Java and Philippines. Generally uncommon in non-breeding areas. Present in Foping Panda Reserve (China).