The little slaty flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is found on the islands of Mindanao, Leyte and Samar in the Philippines.
Region
Philippine Archipelago (eastern Visayas and Mindanao)
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland and foothill evergreen forests on Mindanao, Leyte, and Samar, favoring dense understory and shaded ravines. It uses primary forest and well-structured secondary growth but avoids heavily degraded or open areas. Birds are often found near streams, vine tangles, and thickets where they can sally for insects from low perches. Territories are typically small and centered on dense cover.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A shy understory insect-hunter, the little slaty flycatcher is endemic to the Philippines and belongs to the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. Males are slate-gray while females are brownish, making the pair easy to tell apart. It is highly sensitive to forest loss and degradation, favoring intact or lightly disturbed lowland forest. Its quiet calls and secretive habits often make it difficult to detect.
Temperament
solitary and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with quick sallies from low perches
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs within dense understory. During breeding it defends small territories and builds a small cup nest of moss and fibers placed low in vegetation. It may occasionally join mixed-species flocks but remains close to cover.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a soft series of thin, high-pitched whistles with short trills, often delivered from a concealed perch. Calls include quiet tseet notes that are easily overlooked in forest ambient noise.
Plumage
Male is uniform slaty-gray to bluish-gray with darker head and wings and paler underparts; female is warm brown above with buffy to pale underparts. Both sexes have a fine, broad-based flycatcher bill and subtle pale eye-ring. Plumage is plain overall with minimal wing markings, aiding camouflage in the understory.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small insects and other arthropods, including flies, beetles, and caterpillars. Captures prey by short sallies from low, shaded perches and by gleaning from leaves and twigs. Foraging is methodical and close to cover, minimizing exposure.
Preferred Environment
Dense understory, thickets, vine tangles, and streamside vegetation inside mature or lightly disturbed forest. Frequently forages a few meters above ground along shaded trails and ravines.
