The Sula jungle flycatcher is a species of passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to Sula Island in Indonesia where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Region
Wallacea (Central Indonesia)
Typical Environment
Occurs only on the Sula Islands, where it is associated with primary and lightly disturbed tropical moist lowland forest. It frequents the shaded understory and lower midstory, often along forest streams and in dense thickets. It may appear at forest edges and selectively logged areas if sufficient canopy and understory cover remain. Fragmentation reduces its presence, and it is rarely recorded in open or heavily degraded habitats.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This unobtrusive flycatcher is confined to the Sula Islands of Indonesia and favors shaded, undisturbed lowland forest. It typically hunts by sallying from a low perch to snatch insects, then returns to the same or nearby perch. Ongoing logging and agricultural expansion within its tiny range pose the main threats to its survival.
Temperament
solitary and skittish
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with quick sallies from a perch
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs, maintaining small territories in dense understory. Nests are presumed to be cup-shaped and placed low in vegetation or on sheltered ledges, as with related jungle flycatchers. Breeding pairs are discreet and may become more vocal during the breeding period.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, thin series of whistles and high, sibilant notes delivered from a shaded perch. Calls include sharp ‘tsip’ or ‘tsee’ notes used for contact and alarm. The song carries poorly, matching its preference for dense forest.
Plumage
Subtle, earthy-toned flycatcher with plain brownish-olive upperparts and paler buffy-gray underparts; throat slightly paler. Wings and tail are darker brown with inconspicuous edging. Feathers appear soft and unpatterned, aiding camouflage in dim forest light.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small insects such as flies, beetles, ants, and moths, occasionally taking small spiders and other arthropods. It typically watches from a low perch and makes short sallies to capture prey in the air or glean from leaves and branches. Foraging is deliberate and methodical, often within a few meters of the ground.
Preferred Environment
Understory of primary and lightly disturbed lowland forest, especially along shaded trails, stream margins, and dense thickets. Will forage at semi-open edges if cover is nearby, but avoids exposed clearings.
