The Old World flycatchers family Muscicapidae is a large family of small passerine birds restricted to the Old World (Europa, Asia, and Africa). For more information, see our guide on breeding.
A group of flycatchers is often referred to as “outfield”, “swatting”, “zapper” or “zipper” of flycatchers.
These are mainly small arboreal insectivores, many of which, as the name implies, take their prey on the wing.
The appearance of these birds is very varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls. According to BirdLife International, this species is well documented.
The nest of most is a well-constructed cup in a tree or hedge. According to Audubon Society, this species is well documented.
Species:
- Family: Muscicapidae
- Genus Empidornis
- Silverbird, Empidornis semipartitus
Genus Bradornis
- Pale Flycatcher, Bradornis pallidus
- Chat Flycatcher, Bradornis infuscatus
- Mariqua Flycatcher, Bradornis mariquensis
- African Grey Flycatcher, Bradornis microrhynchus
Genus Melaenornis
- Angola Slaty Flycatcher, Melaenornis brunneus
- White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Melaenornis fischeri
- Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher, Melaenornis chocolatinus
- Northern Black Flycatcher, Melaenornis edolioides
- Southern Black Flycatcher, Melaenornis pammelaina
- Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Melaenornis ardesiacus
- Nimba Flycatcher, Melaenornis annamarulae
Genus Fraseria
- African Forest Flycatcher, Fraseria ocreata
- White-browed Forest Flycatcher, Fraseria cinerascens
Genus Sigelus
- Fiscal Flycatcher, Sigelus silens
Genus Rhinomyias
- Buru Jungle Flycatcher, Rhinomyias addita
- Flores Jungle Flycatcher, Rhinomyias oscillans
- Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher, Rhinomyias brunneata
- Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher, Rhinomyias umbratilis
- Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher, Rhinomyias olivacea
- Chestnut-tailed Jungle Flycatcher, Rhinomyias ruficauda
- Henna-tailed Jungle Flycatcher, Rhinomyias colonus
- Eyebrowed Jungle Flycatcher, Rhinomyias gularis
- Rusty-flanked Jungle Flycatcher, Rhinomyias insignis
- Negros Jungle Flycatcher, Rhinomyias albigularis
- Mindanao Jungle Flycatcher, Rhinomyias goodfellowi
Genus Muscicapa
- Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
- Gambaga Flycatcher, Muscicapa gambagae
- Grey-spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa griseisticta
- Siberian Flycatcher, Muscicapa sibirica
- Asian Brown Flycatcher, Muscicapa dauurica
- Brown-streaked Flycatcher, Muscicapa williamsoni
- Ash-breasted Flycatcher, Muscicapa randi
- Sumba Brown Flycatcher, Muscicapa segregata
- Rusty-tailed Flycatcher, Muscicapa ruficauda : The Rusty-tailed Flycatcher is a small passerine bird in the flycatcher family Muscicapidae.
- Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Muscicapa muttui : The Brown-breasted Flycatcher is a small passerine bird in the flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It was named by Layard after Muttu, the cook in his collecting expedition.
- Ferruginous Flycatcher, Muscicapa ferruginea
- Ussher’s Flycatcher, Muscicapa ussheri
- Sooty Flycatcher, Muscicapa infuscata
- Boehm’s Flycatcher, Muscicapa boehmi
- Swamp Flycatcher, Muscicapa aquatica
- Olivaceous Flycatcher, Muscicapa olivascens
- Chapins’ Flycatcher, Muscicapa lendu
- African Dusky Flycatcher, Muscicapa adusta
- Little Grey Flycatcher, Muscicapa epulata
- Yellow-footed Flycatcher, Muscicapa sethsmithi
- Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Muscicapa comitata
- Tessmann’s Flycatcher, Muscicapa tessmanni
- Cassin’s Flycatcher, Muscicapa cassini
- Ashy Flycatcher, Muscicapa caerulescens
Genus Myioparus
- Grey-throated Tit-flycatcher, Myioparus griseigularis
- Grey Tit-flycatcher, Myioparus plumbeus
Genus Humblotia
- Grand Comoro Flycatcher, Humblotia flavirostris
Genus Ficedula
- European Pied Flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca
- Atlas Flycatcher, Ficedula speculigera : Atlas Flycatcher is a bird in the an Old World Flycatcher family, one of the four species of Western Palearctic black-and-white flycatchers; it is endemic as a breeding species to North-west Africa. It was formerly regarded as a race of European Pied Flycatcher, but Sætre et al. (2001) recommended that it is regarded as a species in its own right. Identification is covered in Etherington and Small (2003) and van den Berg et al. (2006).
- Collared Flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis
- Semi-collared Flycatcher, Ficedula semitorquata
- Korean Flycatcher, Ficedula zanthopygia
- Narcissus Flycatcher, Ficedula narcissina
- Beijing Flycatcher, Ficedula beijingnica
- Mugimaki Flycatcher, Ficedula mugimaki
- Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Ficedula hodgsonii
- Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Ficedula strophiata
- Red-breasted Flycatcher, Ficedula parva
- Red-throated Flycatcher, Ficedula albicilla
- Kashmir Flycatcher, Ficedula subrubra
- Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Ficedula hyperythra
- White-gorgeted Flycatcher, Ficedula monileger
- Rufous-browed Flycatcher, Ficedula solitaris
- Rufous-chested Flycatcher, Ficedula dumetoria
- Rufous-throated Flycatcher, Ficedula rufigula
- Cinnamon-chested Flycatcher, Ficedula buruensis
- Little Slaty Flycatcher, Ficedula basilanica
- Sumba Flycatcher, Ficedula harterti
- Palawan Flycatcher, Ficedula platenae
- Russet-tailed Flycatcher, Ficedula crypta
- Furtive Flycatcher, Ficedula disposita
- Lompobattang Flycatcher, Ficedula bonthaina
- Little Pied Flycatcher, Ficedula westermanni
- Ultramarine Flycatcher, Ficedula superciliaris
- Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Ficedula tricolor
- Black-and-rufous Flycatcher, Ficedula nigrorufa
- Sapphire Flycatcher, Ficedula sapphira
- Black-banded Flycatcher, Ficedula timorensis
Genus Cyanoptila
- Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Cyanoptila cyanomelana : The Blue-and-white Flycatcher is a migratory songbird. It breeds in Japan, Korea, and in parts of China and Russia. It winters in South East Asia, especially in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Sumatra and Borneo.
Genus Eumyias
- Verditer Flycatcher, Eumyias thalassina : The Verditer Flycatcher is an Old World flycatcher found in the Indian Subcontinent, especially in the Lower Himalaya. It is named after its distinctive shade of copper-sulphate blue and has a dark patch between the eyes and above the bill base. They are also interesting among the flycatchers in that they forage above the canopy level and perching on electric wires or exposed tree top branches.
- Dull-blue Flycatcher, Eumyias sordida
- Island Flycatcher, Eumyias panayensis
- Nilgiri Flycatcher, Eumyias albicaudata : The Nilgiri Flycatcher is an Old World flycatcher with a very restricted range in the hills of southern India.
- Indigo Flycatcher, Eumyias indigo
Genus Niltava
- Large Niltava, Niltava grandis
- Small Niltava, Niltava macgrigoriae
- Fujian Niltava, Niltava davidi
- Rufous-bellied Niltava, Niltava sundara
- Rufous-vented Niltava, Niltava sumatrana
- Vivid Niltava, Niltava vivida
Genus Cyornis
- Matinan Flycatcher, Cyornis sanfordi
- Blue-fronted Flycatcher, Cyornis hoevelli
- Timor Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis hyacinthinus
- White-tailed Flycatcher, Cyornis concretus
- Rueck’s Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis ruckii
- Blue-breasted Flycatcher, Cyornis herioti
- Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis hainanus
- White-bellied Blue Flycatchers, Cyornis pallipes
- Pale-chinned Blue Flycatchers, Cyornis poliogenys
- Pale Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis unicolor
- Blue-throated Flycatchers, Cyornis rubeculoides : The Blue-throated Flycatcher is a small passerine bird in the flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It resembles Cyornis tickelliae but easily separated by the blue throat. The habitat of this species is in thicker forest than the other species.
- Hill Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis banyumas
- Long-billed Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis caerulatus
- Malaysian Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis turcosus
- Palawan Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis lemprieri
- Bornean Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis superbus
- Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis tickelliae
- Mangrove Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis rufigastra
- Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis omissus
Genus Muscicapella
- Pygmy Blue Flycatcher, Muscicapella hodgsoni
Genus Culicicapa
- Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher, Culicicapa ceylonensis
- Citrine Canary-flycatcher, Culicicapa helianthea
Genus Horizorhinus
- Dohrn’s Flycatcher, Horizorhinus dohrni
Genus Tarsiger
- Red-flanked Bluetail, Tarsiger cyanurus
- Golden Bush Robin, Tarsiger chrysaeus
- White-browed Bush Robin, Tarsiger indicus
- Rufous-breasted Bush Robin, Tarsiger hyperythrus
- Collared Bush Robin, Tarsiger johnstoniae
Genus Luscinia
Genus Erithacus- European Robin, Erithacus rubecula
- Japanese Robin, Erithacus akahige
- Ryukyu Robin, Erithacus komadori
Genus Irania
- White-throated Robin, Irania gutturalis
Genus SaxicolaGenus Pogonocichla
- White-starred Robin, Pogonocichla stellata
Genus Swynnertonia
- Swynnerton’s Robin, Swynnertonia swynnertoni
Genus Stiphrornis
- Forest Robin, Stiphrornis erythrothorax
Genus Xenocopsychus
- Angola Cave Chat, Xenocopsychus ansorgei
Genus Saxicoloides
- Indian Robin, Saxicoloides fulicata
Genus Cinclidium
- White-tailed Robin, Cinclidium leucurum
- Sunda Robin, Cinclidium diana
- Blue-fronted Robin, Cinclidium frontale
Genus Grandala
- Grandala, Grandala coelicolor
Genus Namibornis
- Herero Chat, Namibornis herero
Genus Cercomela
- Sicklewing Chat, Cercomela sinuata
- Karoo Chat, Cercomela schlegelii
- Tractrac Chat, Cercomela tractrac
- Familiar Chat, Cercomela familiaris
- Brown-tailed Chat, Cercomela scotocerca
- Indian Chat, Cercomela fusca
- Sombre Chat, Cercomela dubia
- Blackstart, Cercomela melanura
- Moorland Chat, Cercomela sordida
Genus Myrmecocichla
- Congo Moorchat, Myrmecocichla tholloni
- Northern Anteater Chat, Myrmecocichla aethiops
- Southern Anteater Chat, Myrmecocichla formicivora
- Sooty Chat, Myrmecocichla nigra
- Rueppell’s Chat, Myrmecocichla melaena
- White-fronted Black Chat, Myrmecocichla albifrons
- White-headed Black Chat, Myrmecocichla arnotti
Genus Thamnolaea
- Mocking Cliff Chat, Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris
- White-winged Cliff Chat, Thamnolaea semirufa
Genus Pinarornis
- Boulder Chat Pinarornis plumosus
Genus Sheppardia, akalats
Genus Cossyphicula, robin-chats- White-bellied Robin Chat, Cossyphicula roberti
- Mountain Robin Chat, Cossypha isabellae
- Archer’s Robin Chat, Cossypha archeri
- Olive-flanked Robin Chat, Cossypha anomala
- Cape Robin Chat, Cossypha caffra
- White-throated Robin Chat, Cossypha humeralis
- Blue-shouldered Robin Chat, Cossypha cyanocampter
- Grey-winged Robin Chat, Cossypha polioptera
- Rueppell’s Robin Chat, Cossypha semirufa
- White-browed Robin Chat, Cossypha heuglini
- Red-capped Robin Chat, Cossypha natalensis
- Chorister Robin Chat, Cossypha dichroa
- White-headed Robin Chat, Cossypha heinrichi
- Snowy-crowned Robin Chat, Cossypha niveicapilla
- White-crowned Robin Chat, Cossypha albicapilla
Genus Cichladusa, palm-thrushes
- Collared Palm Thrush, Cichladusa arquata
- Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush, Cichladusa ruficauda
- Spotted Morning Thrush, Cichladusa guttata
Genus Cercotrichas, the scrub-robins or bush-chats
- Forest Scrub Robin, Cercotrichas leucosticta
- Bearded Scrub Robin, Cercotrichas quadrivirgata
- Miombo Scrub Robin, Cercotrichas barbata
- Brown Scrub Robin, Cercotrichas signata
- Brown-backed Scrub Robin, Cercotrichas hartlaubi
- Red-backed Scrub Robin, Cercotrichas leucophrys
- Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin or Rufous Bush Chat, Cercotrichas galactotes
- Kalahari Scrub Robin, Cercotrichas paena
- African Scrub Robin, Cercotrichas minor
- Karoo Scrub Robin, Cercotrichas coryphaeus
- Black Scrub Robin, Cercotrichas podobe
- Genus Copsychus, magpie-robins or shamas
- Genus Trichixos, shamas
- Rufous-tailed Shama, Trichixos pyrropyga
Genus Phoenicurus, redstarts
- Genus Chaimarrornis, redstarts
- White-capped Redstart, Chaimarrornis leucocephalus
Genus Rhyacornis, redstarts
- Plumbeous Redstart, Rhyacornis fuliginosus
- Luzon Redstart, Rhyacornis bicolor
Genus Hodgsonius, redstarts
- White-bellied Redstart, Hodgsonius phaenicuroides
Genus Enicurus, forktails
- Little Forktail, Enicurus scouleri
- Sunda Forktail, Enicurus velatus
- Chestnut-naped Forktail, Enicurus ruficapillus
- Black-backed Forktail, Enicurus immaculatus
- Slaty-backed Forktail, Enicurus schistaceus
- White-crowned Forktail, Enicurus leschenaulti
- Spotted Forktail, Enicurus maculatus
Genus Cochoa, cochoas:
- Purple Cochoa, Cochoa purpurea
- Green Cochoa, Cochoa viridis
- Sumatran Cochoa, Cochoa beccarii
- Javan Cochoa, Cochoa azurea
- Genus Empidornis
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