Muscicapidae bird family

Order Passeriformes · 13 selected species

Browse verified BirdLens profiles selected for complete taxonomy, substantial descriptive coverage, and visual evidence. Open a species to compare its identification notes, distribution, behavior, sounds, and maps.

Ashy FlycatcherFraseria caerulescensA slim, cool-gray flycatcher with an upright posture, a white eye-ring broken by a dark stripe through the eye, and a short pale eyebrow. Individuals, pairs, and small groups prefer forest edge, dense woodland, and plantations, where they may join mixed-species flocks foraging in the mid-canopy. The species makes sallying flights to catch insects and small vertebrates, returning to a regular perch. The Ashy Flycatcher lacks the white outer tail feathers and horizontal posture of the otherwise similar Gray-Tit Flycatcher.

Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosDistinctive orange tail, best seen when flashed open or in flight. Varies considerably within range. Western birds are darker overall; male is slaty blackish, female smoky grayish overall. Eastern males have extensive orange on the underparts, and females are warm brown. Song also varies: western birds give a short trill preceded by a few buzzy intro notes, while eastern birds incorporate buzzy and trilled elements. Calls include high-pitched “tseet” and dry clicks. Occupies varied open habitats, often but not always with a rocky component. Feeds mainly on or near the ground, perching rather upright; sings from prominent perches.

Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusMale handsome and distinctive, with black face and throat offset by white brow, bright orangey breast, blue-gray back. Female drab gray-brown overall except for bright tail. Female told from female Black Redstart by warmer, buffy-brown (not grayish) breast. Found in mixed and deciduous woodland, heathland with trees and hedges; often uses coastal scrub, thornscrub, and other drier habitats during the non-breeding season. Unobtrusive; tends to perch rather upright and has a distinctive habit of shivering its bright orangey tail. Pleasant song can include various whistles and warbles, as well as drier, buzzier phrases. Calls include hard “pik” notes and a rising “weet.”

Desert WheatearOenanthe desertiSmall dark-winged bird found in dry, open areas with sparse vegetation. Frequently seen perched up on posts, telephone lines, and rock mounds. Breeding male is soft brown above and pale below with a tan breast and a jet-black face, wings, and tail; nonbreeding male’s face is mottled instead of solid black. Female is more modestly colored and is gray above with less extensive black on the wings. Beware of very similar female Northern Wheatear, which tends to be warmer-colored, especially on the breast and has more extensive white in the tail than Desert Wheatear. Bright white rump in both sexes contrast sharply with black tail when in flight. The male’s song starts out with brief series of short, sweet whistles, and ends with a mellow rolling note. Calls are dry and somewhat chattery.

European RobinErithacus rubeculaDistinctive and charismatic little bird with a bright orangey face and breast (easily hidden when facing away). Juvenile is very different, with bold pale buffy spotting on the back and breast. Found in a wide range of wooded habitats, including forests, gardens, hedges in farmland, and heathland, usually fairly near cover. Hops perkily on the ground, pausing to look around, often flicking its wings and cocking its tail. Also feeds by dropping to the ground from low perches, snatching up prey and flying back up to a shady perch. High-pitched song is highly variable, and incorporates a range of warbles and trills. Subsong is a rambling warbling series often incorporating odd fizzing and twittering notes. Calls include a dry “tic”, often given in bursts, as well as a thin, high-pitched, descending alarm call.

Himalayan RubythroatCalliope pectoralisShy inhabitant of thickets and dense grassy areas from subalpine scrub to above treeline. Male is gunmetal gray with a white brow, bright orange throat, and a black patch extending from the face down to the breast. Very similar to the closely related Chinese Rubythroat, which has a white moustachial stripe. Chinese Rubythroat female averages browner than female Himalayan, but is best identified by range; Chinese breeds in central and south-central China, while Himalayan breeds along the Himalayas, in Xinjiang, and in Central Asia. Female Himalayan has a weaker eyebrow than female Siberian Rubythroat, and is darker overall.

Pied BushchatSaxicola caprataA sedentary “chat” associated with open habitats in tropical and subtropical Asia. Males are black with a white vent and a white wing patch. Females are dark brown with a reddish-brown rump and underparts. Females can resemble the migratory Siberian Stonechat, but can be separated by the absence of an eyebrow and of any white on the collar or wing. Rather conspicuous; it may use and sing from any open perch unlike more discerning stonechats. Calls include a rising “whee” and hard, decisive “chruk.”

Rufous-naped LarkCorypha africanaA large, robust, rusty lark with a short crest, a hefty bill, and a prominent rufous wing panel that is obvious in flight. Geographically highly variable, and does not always show a rufous nape. Can vary from rich rufous-brown to pale and sandy in overall coloration. Pairs are resident in open grassland, grassy savanna, woodland, and cultivated areas. It is most conspicuous in the spring and summer, when it perches up singing a sweet, simple song of 3-5 notes such as “treee-leee-treeloo,” occasionally drooping its wings and jumping with a small flutter, exposing the rufous wings that it shares with some other larks.

Swynnerton's RobinSwynnertonia swynnertoniDainty but delightful understory forest robin with gray-green upperparts and apricot underparts, with a diagnostic black margined white throat crescent (sometimes hidden) and dark tail. Immature spotted above and duller below. Singles and pairs are scarce residents skulking close to the open understory of mature montane forest, often near streams, mostly between 850–1800m. Song a clear sweet 3-note whistle “tseee-tuu-tuu” and other similar sounds. The alarm call is a dry chattering “trrrrrt”. The larger White-starred Robin is yellower than Swynnerton’s, including in the tail, has small white spectacles (sometimes inconspicuous) in front of the eye, and lacks a white throat crescent.

WhinchatSaxicola rubetraMale distinctive, with bold white eyebrow, dark cheeks, and peachy-orange breast. Female duller but with a ghosting of the male’s pattern, especially the pale eyebrow. In flight, shows distinctive white bases to sides of tail. Found in open country on heathland, moorland, rough grassland, often with bracken. Non-breeding habitat is somewhat similar, with open grasslands, marshes, and forest clearings being favored. Perches atop bushes and on fences, dropping to the ground to feed, hopping around briefly before flying back up to a perch. Song consists of quick, jumbled phrases consisting of whistles, trills, and dry rasping rattles. Calls include short dry rattles, a quiet “dew”, sometimes doubled, and dry “tak” notes.

White-crowned ForktailEnicurus leschenaultiA typical forktail, with piebald plumage and long tail. Like most other forktails, it inhabits shaded whitewater streams, along which it perches on boulders and low-hanging branches. Unmarked black back distinguishes it from Slaty-backed and Spotted forktails. Can be confused with Black-backed Forktail, but unlike that species, white does not extend behind the eye. Often detected by its vocalizations, a harsh buzzing whistle and high metallic whistles.

White-starred RobinPogonocichla stellataBeautiful little forest robin. There are white “stars” in front of the eye and on the bottom of the throat, which are usually hidden. Most subspecies have a black-and-yellow tail in which the black forms a bold “T”. Found in the understory of moist forest, exclusively montane forest away from South Africa. A shy and inconspicuous bird that is usually detected by voice. Song is a quiet and simple series of whistled notes. Also gives low, raspy calls, and a repeated up-and-down series of piping whistles. Distinctive when seen well.