FeatherScan logo
FeatherScan
Overview
Rufous-throated flycatcher

Rufous-throated flycatcher

Wikipedia

The rufous-throated flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Loading map...

Distribution

Region

Sulawesi, Indonesia

Typical Environment

Occurs patchily across lowland and foothill rainforests on Sulawesi. It favors primary forest and mature secondary growth with a closed canopy and dense understory. Birds typically forage from shaded perches in the lower to mid-story and along quiet forest edges or river corridors. It is scarce or absent in heavily degraded habitats and extensive plantations.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1000 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size11–13 cm
Wing Span18–22 cm
Male Weight0.012 kg
Female Weight0.011 kg
Life Expectancy5 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

A small forest flycatcher found only on Sulawesi, Indonesia. It keeps to the lower and mid-story of intact lowland rainforest and is easily overlooked due to its quiet, unobtrusive behavior. Habitat loss from logging and agricultural conversion is the principal threat, though it can persist in selectively logged forests where canopy structure remains.

Gallery

Bird photo
Bird photo

Behaviour

Temperament

shy and unobtrusive

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with quick sallies from perches

Social Behavior

Usually encountered singly or in pairs within forest interior. Often joins mixed-species foraging flocks moving through the understory and mid-story. Nesting is presumed to involve a small cup of plant fibers and moss placed on a fork or sheltered ledge, with both parents tending young.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Song is a series of thin, high-pitched whistles and soft trills delivered from a shaded perch. Calls include soft ticks and tsip notes used during foraging and contact. Vocalizations are modest in volume, blending into forest background sounds.

Similar Bird Species