The rufous-breasted blue flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found on the Bicol Peninsula and Catanduanes. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the blue-breasted blue flycatcher. This species was only photographed in the wild for the first time ever in March 2025 – prior to this there was no other documentation of this species for 17 years. This species remains one of the least documented birds in the Philippines.
Region
Luzon (Bicol Peninsula) and Catanduanes, Philippines
Typical Environment
It inhabits tropical moist lowland forests, favoring shaded, densely vegetated understory and midstory. Birds are most often encountered along quiet forest trails, ravines, and stream corridors. It can persist in selectively logged or secondary forest if sufficient cover remains, but appears most regular in mature forest. The species is highly skulking and tends to remain near the interior rather than open edges.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This elusive forest flycatcher is confined to the Bicol Peninsula and Catanduanes in the Philippines, where it keeps to dense understory. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the blue-breasted blue flycatcher. Remarkably, it was only photographed in the wild for the first time in March 2025 after many years without documentation. Ongoing loss of lowland forest likely affects its small, localized population.
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid sallies from low to mid-level perches
Social Behavior
Typically seen singly or in pairs, holding small territories within dense forest. Breeding pairs likely build a small cup nest low in understory vegetation or saplings, with both parents feeding nestlings. It may join mixed-species flocks briefly but usually forages quietly on its own.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a soft, thin series of high, sweet whistles and short trills delivered from concealed perches. Calls include faint ticks and tsee notes, often given while foraging. Vocalizations are subdued and can be easily missed amid forest ambient sounds.
