Fairy Flycatchers

The Stenostiridae, commonly known as fairy flycatchers or stenostirid warblers, are a family of small passerine birds recently defined through molecular systematics studies. Initially, the fairy flycatcher, belonging to the genus Stenostira, was part of the Old World flycatchers, but now it is grouped with similar birds such as the Elminia species, the Yellow-bellied fantail from the genus Chelidorhynx, and the Grey-headed and Citrine canary-flycatchers of the genus Culicicapa, which includes species previously thought to be different due to their morphological traits. Some other African or Asian birds might also belong to this clade, like the tit-flycatchers. This family is thought to be closely related to penduline tits, titmice, and chickadees, suggesting a connection with the Sylvioidea superfamily, though this relationship requires further evidence for stronger support.

Species Categories

Accentors African & Green Broadbills Albatrosses Alcippe Fulvettas Anhingas, Darters Asian Barbets Auks Austral Storm Petrels Australasian Babblers Australasian Robins Australasian Warblers Australasian Wrens Australo-Papuan Bellbirds Babblers, Scimitar Babblers Barn Owls Bee-eaters Birds-of-paradise Boatbills Bristlehead Bulbuls Buntings Bushtits Bustards Buttonquail Caracaras, Falcons Cassowaries, Emu Cettia Bush Warblers & Allies Chats, Old World Flycatchers Cisticolas & Allies Cockatoos Cormorants, Shags Coursers, Pratincoles Crab-plover Cranes Crombecs, African Warblers Crows, Jays Cuckoos Cuckooshrikes Cupwings Dippers Drongos Ducks, Geese, Swans Elachura Fairy Flycatchers Fairy-bluebirds Fantails Figbirds, Orioles, Turnagra Finches, Euphonias Finfoots Flamingos Flowerpeckers Flufftails Frigatebirds Frogmouths Gannets, Boobies Goldcrests, Kinglets Grassbirds & Allies Grebes Ground Babblers Gulls, Terns, Skimmers Herons, Bitterns Honeyeaters Honeyguides Hoopoes Hornbills Hylocitrea Ibisbill Ibises, Spoonbills Ifrit Indigobirds, Whydahs Ioras Jacanas Jewel-babblers, Quail-thrushes Kingfishers Kites, Hawks, Eagles Larks Laughingthrushes & Allies Leaf Warblers & Allies Leafbirds Longspurs, Snow Buntings Magpie Goose Megapodes Melampittas Monarchs Mottled Berryhunter Nightjars Northern Storm Petrels Nuthatches Old World Parrots Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches Ospreys Owls Oystercatchers Painted-snipes Parrotbills & Allies Pelicans Penduline Tits Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels Pheasants & Allies Pigeons, Doves Pittas Ploughbill Plovers Rail-babbler Rails, Crakes & Coots Reed Warblers & Allies Rollers Sandpipers, Snipes Shrikes Sittellas Skuas Starlings, Rhabdornis Stilts, Avocets Stone-curlews, Thick-knees Storks Sunbirds Swallows, Martins Swifts Sylviid Babblers Thrushes Tits, Chickadees Treecreepers Treeswifts Trogons Tropicbirds Typical Broadbills Vangas & Allies Vireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblers Wagtails, Pipits Wallcreeper Waxbills, Munias & Allies Waxwings Weavers, Widowbirds Whipbirds Whistlers & Allies White-eyes Woodpeckers Woodswallows, Butcherbirds & Allies Wrens Jayshrike

Birda Blog

A passionate photographer is outdoors, equipped with a top-notch camera for bird photography.

14 best cameras for bird photography

August 9, 2022

John White

A woman in a jacket birdwatching out in nature, looking at her phone and considering the best birding app.

11 of the best birdwatching apps in the UK

August 8, 2022

John White

A large flock of Red-necked Stints, a great bird to look for when learning how to start birdwatching.

How to start birdwatching – a helpful guide for beginners

January 18, 2022

John White

People looking at a sunset in a Top 10 Birdwatching Park in the US

The top 10 birdwatching parks in the USA

December 7, 2022

Sarah Cunningham

The Best US States For Birdwatching - map of USA with state names

The best US states for bird watching, a helpful illustrated guide

January 17, 2022

John White

Three people walking in nature in a highland, birdwatching and using one of the best free birdwatching apps

What are the best free birdwatching apps?

March 28, 2023

Will Hall

Children are outdoors, enthusiastically observing and admiring birds in their natural habitat.

12 of the best birdwatching apps in the USA

February 9, 2023

Sarah Cunningham

8x vs 10 x binoculars - person holding their pair in hand

Binoculars for birdwatching 8x vs 10x magnification

What Our Birders Say

Ellesse_W

Learning Birding with Birda

I’m relatively new to birding as a hobby, and Birda is a great way to keep track off all the species I see. I’m still working on my ID skills, but the app is great for figuring out potential species, and the online community is so friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend Birda to both early and serious birders! 🐦

Jake W

Great app

I use this app all the time as it’s quick and easy to log individual sightings or whole birding sessions. It’s an excellent way to meet new people and the forum is full of really friendly people. The challenges are a great way to get involved and learn more about birds. Cannot recommend it enough!

Carl B

Helped me to identify more birds

Love this app and has helped me to identify more birds. The challenges and badges are great for keeping the motivation going to get out and keep birding.

Foxgirl100

Great app for beginner twitchers

I’ve had a passion of photographing birds for a long time now but have only just gotten into proper birdwatching, and this app is brilliant for those just getting started. There is a great sense of community among users and the app is very easy to use and professional. Awesome app altogether

Sacha0508

Simply fantastic

I love this app, it puts so much fun into recording the birds I’ve seen and heard while I’m out and about. The interface is user-friendly and suitable for all ages. It’s great to collect badges and to review my “lists”.

David C

Very knowledgeable group

Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.

Nicole

Gets me outdoors more

I'm still loving this app. I use it most days & gets me outdoors more. Enjoying watching others progress and photo's, it's improved my wellbeing.... I love this app! I can keep a record of sightings and see what others have seen too.

Pdydhdrexgi

Fantastic App

This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.

Birdafan

Ideal Birdwatch Companion

Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.

Emcil24

A Friendly Place

I love using the bird app, I have a pretty good knowledge of birds. But I do have some gaps in it, so it’s nice to have a safe space to check on a sighting to confirm the species. It’s really enjoyable and I love the badges you can collect. It’s like a real life Pokémon go.

As featured in