The Bundok flycatcher or thicket flycatcher, is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found in tropical montane forest.
Region
Philippine Archipelago
Typical Environment
Found in tropical montane and submontane forests with dense thickets, vine tangles, and shaded understory. Prefers primary forest but may use mature secondary growth where the understorey remains well developed. Often associates with stream gullies, mossy forest edges, and bamboo or rattan patches. Tends to remain within a few meters of the ground, moving quietly between low perches.
Altitude Range
800–2200 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Bundok flycatcher, also called the thicket flycatcher, is a small, shy muscicapid that keeps to dense undergrowth in Philippine montane forests. It typically forages low, making short sallies from shaded perches to snatch insects. Its subdued plumage helps it stay concealed, and it is more often detected by its thin, high-pitched calls than by sight. Habitat quality and intact forest understory are important for its persistence.
Temperament
solitary and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs, staying low in dense cover. During the breeding season, pairs defend small territories and build a neat cup nest hidden in shrubs or low forks. Clutches are small, and both parents typically participate in incubation and chick rearing.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft series of thin, high-pitched whistles and tsip notes delivered from shaded perches. Calls are subdued but can be repeated persistently at dawn and in calm forest conditions.
Plumage
Plain, soft-textured plumage with dull olive-brown upperparts and paler buffy underparts, often with a slightly paler throat and faint breast wash. Subtle facial contrast with a modest eye-ring and dusky lores. Tail may show warmer rufous tones toward the edges.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small insects and other arthropods, including flies, beetles, moths, and spiders. Forages by sallying from low, shaded perches to snatch prey mid-air or by gleaning from leaves and twigs. Occasionally drops to the leaf-litter to pick up disturbed invertebrates.
Preferred Environment
Dense forest undergrowth, vine tangles, and bamboo or rattan thickets, often near streams or along shadowed trails. Typically remains within the lower strata of the forest, using cover for both foraging and refuge.
