Marico Flycatcher
Bradornis mariquensis
A large flycatcher with upright posture, plain brown upperparts with warm edges to flight feathers, and diagnostic and strongly contrasting bold white underparts. Juveniles are heavily streaked brown and white. Pairs and small groups inhabit arid scrub, favoring thorn trees, where they sit conspicuously on low perches, sallying or pouncing onto the ground to subdue prey. All other brown flycatchers in the same range have brown or buffy underparts.
Identification
The Marico flycatcher or Mariqua flycatcher (Bradornis mariquensis) is a passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae that is found in areas of southern Africa.
Taxonomy
The Marico flycatcher was previously placed in the genus Bradornis but was moved to Melaenornis based on the results of a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2010.
- Scientific name
- Bradornis mariquensis
- Authority
- Smith, A, 1847
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Bradornis
Range and habitat
Its natural habitat is dry savanna. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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