Mugimaki Flycatcher

The Mugimaki Flycatcher, Ficedula mugimaki, is a diminutive passerine, measuring a mere 13 to 13.5 centimeters in length. This bird is a member of the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae, and is known in its native Japan as the "wheat-sower."

Identification Tips

The adult male Mugimaki Flycatcher is characterized by blackish upperparts and a striking white supercilium just behind the eye. A white wing-patch, white-edged tertials, and white at the base of the outer tail-feathers are also notable. The breast and throat exhibit a vibrant orange-red, while the belly and undertail-coverts remain white. The female, in contrast, is grey-brown above with a paler orange-brown breast and throat, and typically lacks the white in the tail. She may show one or two pale wingbars and a faint or absent supercilium. Young males resemble females but have a brighter orange breast, white in the tail, and a more pronounced supercilium.

Habitat

The Mugimaki Flycatcher favors forests and woodlands, particularly at higher elevations. During migration, it can also be observed in parks and gardens.

Distribution

This species breeds in eastern Siberia and north-east China. During migration, it traverses eastern China, Korea, and Japan, eventually wintering in Southeast Asia, including western Indonesia and the Philippines. Notably, there has been a single record of a vagrant individual in Alaska and an unconfirmed sighting in Humberside, England.

Behaviour

The Mugimaki Flycatcher is often seen alone or in small groups. It exhibits a rattling call and is known for frequently flicking its wings and tail. It predominantly feeds on flying insects, which it catches in the tree canopy.

Song & calls

The bird's vocalizations include a distinctive rattling call.

Conservation status

The Mugimaki Flycatcher is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of widespread decline.