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Muscicapa
File:SpottedFlycatcheronfence.jpg
Spotted Flycatcher (M. striata)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Subfamily: Muscicapinae
Genus: Muscicapa
Brisson, 1760
Diversity
[[#Species|About 25 species]]

Muscicapa is a genus of passerine birds belonging to the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae, and therein to the typical flycatchers of subfamily Muscicapinae. They are widespread across Europe, Africa and Asia with most species occurring in forest and woodland habitats. Several species are migratory, moving south from Europe and northern Asia for the winter.[1]

They are small birds, 9 to 15 centimetres in length. They have a large head, short tail and a flattened bill, broader at the base. Their plumage is mostly drab brown or grey and rather plain. Young birds tend to be more spotted or mottled.[1]

Muscicapa flycatchers typically feed on flying insects which are caught by sallying out from an exposed perch. The nest is usually cup-shaped and built on a tree branch but some African species nest in tree holes.[1]

Species[]

23 to 25 different named species of Muscicapa flycatchers are recognized; one putative undescribed species is also known to exist on Sulawesi (Indonesia):[2]


  • Sulawesi Flycatcher, ?Muscicapa sp.[3]

Now in Bradornis[]

Now in Fraseria[]

Footnotes[]

  1. ^ a b c Sinclair et al. (2003), Perrins (2004), del Hoyo et al. (2006)
  2. ^ King et al. (1999), del Hoyo et al. (2006)
  3. ^ King et al. (1999)

References[]

  • del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew & Sargatal, Jordi (eds.) (2006): Handbook of Birds of the World (Vol. 11: Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers). Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-96553-06-X (Vol.11: 2006)
  • King, Ben; Rostron, Philip; Luijendijk, Teus; Bouwman, Rob & Quispel, Chris (1999): An undescribed Muscicapa flycatcher on Sulawesi, Indonesia. Forktail 15: 104. PDF fulltext
  • Perrins, Christopher (ed.) (2004): The New Encyclopedia of Birds. Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 0198525060
  • Sinclair, Ian; Ryan, Pete; Christy, Patrice & Hockey, Phil (2003): Birds of Africa: a complete illustrated field guide to the birds of the Sahara. Struik, Cape Town. ISBN 1-86872-857-9






Eurasian Spoonbill This article is part of Project Bird Genera, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each genus, including made-up genera.
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