Alternative names: Dusky Alseonax; Dusky-brown Flycatcher
- Muscicapa adusta
Identification
At only 100-111 mm it is a relatively small flycatcher. It has a short tail which gives it a characteristic dumpy appearance. The adults are plain brown above with a grey-brown underside. The only facial marking is an indistinct narrow eye-ring.
Distribution
Most of sub-saharan Africa
Western Africa: Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola
Eastern Africa: South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi
Southern Africa: Zimbabwe, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, eSwatini
African Islands: Gulf of Guinea Islands, Bioko (Fernando Po)
Taxonomy
Subspecies[1]
- M. a. poensis ( obscura, albiventris, kumboensis, okuensis): Highlands of Cameroon; Bioko (Gulf of Guinea)
- M. a. pumila (grotei, subtilis, interposita, chyulu): Cameroon and northwestern Central African Republic; southern South Sudan, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, western Rwanda, western Burundi, western Kenya, and northern Tanzania
- M. a. minima: Highlands of Eritrea and north-eastern Ethiopia
- M. a. marsabit: Northern Kenya (Mount Marsabit region)
- M. a. murina (roehli): Mountains of south-eastern Kenya (Taita Hills) to north-western Tanzania
- M. a. fuelleborni: Highlands of southern and central Tanzania
- M. a. subadusta (angolensis): Angola to southern Zaire, north-western Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique
- M. a. mesica: Zimbabwe (except for eastern highlands)
- M. a. fuscula: Coastal Transkei to eSwatini, Natal and eastern Cape Province
- M. a. adusta: Northern and eastern Transvaal to Natal, eSwatini and Cape Province
Habitat
This is a highland species which is typically found along forest edges and in wooded areas (including gardens).
Behaviour
They hawk for flying insects
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) African Dusky Flycatcher. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 8 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/African_Dusky_Flycatcher
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
