The slaty-blue flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae.
Region
Himalayas and Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs from the central and eastern Himalayas through Northeast India and Bhutan into northern Myanmar and southern China (including Yunnan), extending to northern Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. Prefers moist montane broadleaf and mixed forests with dense undergrowth. Common around shaded gullies, bamboo thickets, and along forest streams. Often found in forest edges and regenerating secondary habitats at higher elevations. It keeps to low strata, moving quietly through tangles and shrub layers.
Altitude Range
800–3000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The slaty-blue flycatcher is a small Old World flycatcher of shaded montane forests, with males showing a distinctive slaty-blue plumage. It often stays low in dense undergrowth and along ravines, making it more often heard than seen. Pairs are typically unobtrusive, and the species performs short sallies to catch insects from low perches.
Temperament
skulking and wary
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with quick sallies
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, especially during the breeding season. Nests are placed low, often in banks, crevices, or dense shrubs, built of moss and fine fibers. Clutches are small, and both parents attend the young. Outside breeding, it may join mixed-species flocks at low forest levels.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
A soft, high-pitched series of thin whistles and trills delivered from concealed perches. Calls include sharp ticks and thin seep notes, often given when foraging in dense cover.
