Grey-streaked Flycatcher

The Grey-streaked Flycatcher, or Grey-spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta), is a small, elegant passerine bird, a member of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is a slender bird with long wings, measuring between 13 to 15 centimeters in length. Its upperparts are predominantly grey-brown, while its underparts are a crisp white. The bird's breast and flanks are adorned with pronounced grey streaks, and it sports a narrow white bar on its wing. A distinctive pale patch lies between the bill and eye, complementing the large eye surrounded by a white eye-ring. Both the bill and feet are a stark black, adding contrast to its subtle plumage.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Grey-streaked Flycatcher, look for the heavy grey streaking on the breast and flanks, the white bar on the wing, and the pale patch near the bill. The large eye with a white eye-ring is also a key feature. Adult males and females are similar in appearance, while juveniles can be distinguished by white spots and dark scaling on their upperparts.

Habitat

This species is known to breed in the expansive coniferous forests of north-east China, North Korea, and south-east Siberia, including regions such as Sakhalin and Kamchatka.

Distribution

The Grey-streaked Flycatcher is a migratory bird, traveling through eastern and southern China, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan during spring and autumn. Its wintering grounds include forests, forest edges, and open country with scattered trees in Borneo, the Philippines, Palau, eastern Indonesia, and New Guinea. It is occasionally seen as a vagrant in Singapore, Vietnam, Alaska, and Australia.

Behaviour

This flycatcher exhibits typical behavior for its family, perching openly and keeping a vigilant eye out for passing insects. It skillfully flies out up to 20 meters to snatch its prey mid-air before returning to its perch to consume the catch.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List has classified the Grey-streaked Flycatcher as Least Concern, indicating that, currently, there are no immediate threats to its population levels.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Grey-streaked Flycatcher consists primarily of insects, which it catches in flight in a true flycatcher fashion.

In the quiet of the forest, one might observe the Grey-streaked Flycatcher executing its aerial acrobatics, a testament to the intricate dance of predator and prey played out in the dappled light beneath the canopy.