Ashy Flycatcher

Photo by safariranger in Lower Sabie, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Alternative name: Ashy Alseonax

Muscicapa caerulescens

Identification

14-16cm. This is a pale grey or blue-grey flycatcher of forest margins. The black loral line and the short white supraloral streak which joins the narrow white eye-ring are good diagnostic features for this bird.

Distribution

Africa.

Taxonomy

There are 6 subspecies;

• M. c. caerulescens
• M. c. nigrorum
• M. c. brevicauda
• M. c. cinereola
• M. c. impavida
• M. c. vulturna

Habitat

Dry and moist forests and moist savanna.

Behaviour

The diet includes insects.

It builds a bulky cup-shaped nest from moss, grass, and rootlets lined with finer material which is placed in a shallow tree-cavity, a bark crevice, or at a narrow branch-fork. 2-3 creamy, finely speckled eggs are laid.

External Links

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