Birds Guide

Old World flycatchers
Nilgiri Flycatcher, Eumyias albicaudata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia   Phylum: Chordata   Class: Aves   Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae Vigors, 1825
Genera
See text.

The Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae is a large family of small passerine birds restricted to the Old World. These are mainly small arboreal insectivores, many of which, as the name implies, take their prey on the wing.

This article follows Handbook of Birds of the World in including the small chat-like ground feeders previously classed with the Turdidae thrushes in this group.

The appearance of these birds is very varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls. The nest of most is a well-constructed cup in a tree or hedge.

• 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
      Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Muscicapa muttui
      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
      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
  • Genus Eumyias
    • Verditer Flycatcher, Eumyias thalassina
      Dull-blue Flycatcher, Eumyias sordida
      Island Flycatcher, Eumyias panayensis
      Nilgiri Flycatcher, Eumyias albicaudata
      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 Flycatcher, Cyornis pallipes
      Pale-chinned Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis poliogenys
      Pale Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis unicolor
      Blue-throated Flycatcher, Cyornis rubeculoides
      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
    • Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
      Siberian Rubythroat, Luscinia calliope
      Rufous-tailed Robin or Swinhoe's Nightingale , Luscinia sibilans
      Thrush Nightingale, Luscinia luscinia
      Nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos
      Indian Blue Robin or Indian Blue Chat, Luscinia brunneus
      White-tailed Rubythroat, Luscinia pectoralis
      Rufous-headed Robin, Luscinia ruficeps
      Black-throated Blue Robin, Luscinia obscura
      Firethroat, Luscinia pectardens
      Siberian Blue Robin, Luscinia cyane
  • Genus Erithacus
    • European Robin, Erithacus rubecula
      Japanese Robin, Erithacus akahige
      Ryukyu Robin, Erithacus komadori
  • Genus Irania
    • White-throated Robin, Irania gutturalis
  • Genus Saxicola
    • Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra
      Stoliczka's Bushchat or White-browed Bushchat, Saxicola macrorhyncha
      Hodgson's Bushchat or White-throated Bushchat, Saxicola insignis
      Fuerteventura Chat or Canary Island Stonechat, Saxicola dacotiae
      European Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola (previously S. torquata rubicola)
      Siberian Stonechat or Asian Stonechat, Saxicola maura (previously S. torquata maura)
      African Stonechat, Saxicola torquata
      Réunion Stonechat, Saxicola tectes
      White-tailed Stonechat, Saxicola leucura
      Pied Bushchat, Saxicola caprata
      Jerdon's Bushchat, Saxicola jerdoni
      Grey Bushchat, Saxicola ferrea
      White-bellied Bushchat or Timor Bushchat, Saxicola gutturalis
      Buff-streaked Bushchat, Saxicola bifasciata
  • Genus 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
    • Bocage's Akalat, Sheppardia bocagei
      Lowland Akalat, Sheppardia cyornithopsis
      Equatorial Akalat, Sheppardia aequatorialis
      Sharpe's Akalat, Sheppardia sharpei
      East Coast Akalat, Sheppardia gunningi
      Gabela Akalat, Sheppardia gabela
      Usambara Akalat, Sheppardia montana
      Iringa Akalat, Sheppardia lowei
  • 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
    • Madagascar Magpie-robin, Copsychus albospecularis
      Oriental Magpie-robin, Copsychus saularis
      White-rumped Shama, Copsychus malabaricus
      Seychelles Magpie-robin, Copsychus sechellarum
      White-browed Shama, Copsychus luzoniensis
      White-vented Shama, Copsychus niger
      Black Shama, Copsychus cebuensis
  • Genus Trichixos, shamas
    • Rufous-tailed Shama, Trichixos pyrropyga
  • Genus Phoenicurus, redstarts
    • Ala Shan Redstart, Phoenicurus alaschanicus
      Rufous-backed Redstart, Phoenicurus erythronota
      Blue-capped Redstart, Phoenicurus caeruleocephalus
      Black Redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros
      Common Redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus
      Hodgson's Redstart, Phoenicurus hodgsoni
      White-throated Redstart, Phoenicurus schisticeps
      Daurian Redstart, Phoenicurus auroreus
      Moussier's Redstart, Phoenicurus moussieri
      White-winged Redstart, Phoenicurus erythrogaster
      Blue-fronted Redstart, Phoenicurus frontalis
  • 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 Oenanthe, wheatears
    • Northern Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
      Isabelline Wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina
      Desert Wheatear, Oenanthe deserti
      Black-eared Wheatear, Oenanthe hispanica
      Pied Wheatear, Oenanthe pleschanka
      Cyprus Wheatear, Oenanthe cypriaca
      Finsch's Wheatear, Oenanthe finschii
      Mourning Wheatear, Oenanthe lugens
      Hooded Wheatear, Oenanthe monacha
      White-crowned Wheatear, Oenanthe leucopyga
      Black Wheatear, Oenanthe leucura
      Persian Wheatear, Oenanthe xanthoprymna
      Red-rumped Wheatear, Oenanthe moesta
      Hume's Wheatear, Oenanthe alboniger
      Mountain Wheatear, Oenanthe monticola
      Somali Wheatear, Oenanthe phillipsi
      Variable Wheatear, Oenanthe picata
      Red-tailed Wheatear, Oenanthe xanthoprymna
      Capped Wheatear, Oenanthe pileata
      Red-breasted Wheatear, Oenanthe bottae
      Heuglin's Wheatear, Oenanthe heuglini

External links

• Old World flycatcher videos on the Internet Bird Collection