Alternative names: Slaty Flycatcher; Cinereous Flycatcher; Fiji Flycatcher
- Mayrornis lessoni
Identification
12-13 cm (4¾-5 in).
- Slaty-grey plumage, darker on upperparts
- Prominent white eyering
- White lores
- Black tail with white sides and broad white tips
- All dark feet, legs and eye
- orientalis larger and darker than nominate
Sexes similar, juvenile undescribed.
Distribution
Fiji.
A fairly common restricted-range species.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Two subspecies recognized[1]:
- M. l. lessoni in northwest Fiji Islands
- M. l. orientalis in eastern Fiji Islands (Moala Group and Lau Archipelago)
Habitat
Moist lowland forest, also well-wooded parks and gardens. On smaller islands also in more open areas and around villages.
Occurs from lowlands to mountains.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on insects, takes also some fruit.
Often in mixed-species flocks with white-eyes and honeyeaters. Searches for food in middle of forest and subcanopy. Sallies to catch prey, also gleans.
Breeding
Breeds from early dry to middle of wet season. The nest is made of fine fibres or thin grass stems and placed low in forest or reedbeds. Lays 1 or 2 eggs.
Movements
This is a sedentary species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved November 2016)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Slaty Monarch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 17 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Slaty_Monarch
