Ryukyu Flycatcher
NameRyukyu Flycatcher
Common NameRyukyu Flycatcher
Scientific NameFicedula owstoni
FamilyMuscicapidae
Wingspan (cm)19
Length (cm)12.5
Weight (g)12
Plumage DetailsAdult males have a glossy black head, nape, and upper breast, contrasting with a clean white throat. The back and wings are dark brown, and the underparts from the lower breast to the vent are a rich rufous-orange. Females are much duller, with olive-brown upperparts, a paler throat, and a buffy-orange wash on the underparts.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalizations include a series of high-pitched, thin, and often melancholic notes, sometimes described as a soft, trilling whistle.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeThe Ryukyu Flycatcher is endemic to the Ryukyu Islands, an archipelago in Japan, specifically found on islands such as Amami Ōshima, Tokunoshima, Okinawa, and Ishigaki.
Identifying FeaturesSmall size, Distinctive male plumage (black head, white throat, rufous underparts), Endemic to Ryukyu Islands, Typical flycatcher behavior (sallying for insects)
Description
The Ryukyu Flycatcher is a small passerine bird endemic to the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. Males are strikingly patterned with a black head, white throat, and rufous-orange underparts, while females are duller. They are typically found foraging for insects in the understory of forests.
