FeatherScan logo
FeatherScan
Overview
Palawan flycatcher

Palawan flycatcher

Wikipedia

The Palawan flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found only in the region of Palawan. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Loading map...

Distribution

Region

Southeast Asia

Typical Environment

Endemic to the Palawan archipelago of the Philippines, where it inhabits primary and mature secondary lowland evergreen forest. It favors dense understory near streams, vine tangles, rattan and bamboo thickets, and forest gullies. It generally avoids open areas and heavily logged stands, persisting only where cover remains thick. Most records are from the lowlands, with local occurrences on nearby satellite islands where suitable forest persists.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1000 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size11–13 cm
Wing Span18–22 cm
Male Weight0.009 kg
Female Weight0.008 kg
Life Expectancy5 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

This small, understory flycatcher is found only on the Palawan archipelago in the Philippines. It keeps to dense, shaded thickets and is more often heard than seen, giving very thin, high-pitched calls. Highly sensitive to logging and forest degradation, it persists best in intact lowland forest. It occasionally joins mixed-species flocks near the forest floor.

Gallery

Bird photo
Bird photo

Behaviour

Temperament

shy and skulking

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with brief sallies from low perches

Social Behavior

Usually solitary or in pairs, keeping to the dense understory. Nests are placed low in thick vegetation, with both sexes likely involved in parental care. It may occasionally accompany mixed-species flocks near the forest floor but generally forages quietly on its own.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A very thin, high-pitched series of seet and tsee notes, often delivered in short, spaced phrases. Calls are soft and easily overlooked, carrying poorly through dense vegetation.

Similar Bird Species