Muscicapa is a genus of passerine birds belonging to the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. They are widespread across Europe, Africa and Asia with most species occurring in forest and woodland habitats. Several species are migratory, moving south from Europe and northern Asia for the winter. Muscicapa flycatchers typically feed on flying insects which are caught by sallying out from an exposed perch.

They are small birds, 9 to 15 centimetres in length. They have a large head, short tail and a flattened bill, broader at the base. Their plumage is mostly drab brown or grey and rather plain. Young birds tend to be more spotted or mottled.

The nest is usually cup-shaped and built on a tree branch but some African species nest in tree holes.

Species list

Around 23 to 25 different species of Muscicapa flycatcher are recognized. There are also records apparently of an undescribed species in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

• Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
• Gambaga Flycatcher, Muscicapa gambagae
• Grey-streaked Flycatcher or Grey-spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa griseisticta
• Dark-sided Flycatcher or Siberian Flycatcher, Muscicapa sibirica
• Asian Brown Flycatcher, Muscicapa dauurica
• Brown-streaked Flycatcher, Muscicapa (dauurica) williamsoni
• Ashy-breasted Flycatcher, Muscicapa randi
• Sumba Brown Flycatcher, Muscicapa segregata
• Rusty-tailed Flycatcher, Muscicapa ruficauda
• Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Muscicapa muttui
• Ferruginous Flycatcher, Muscicapa ferruginea
• Ussher's Flycatcher, Muscicapa ussheri
• Sooty Flycatcher, Muscicapa infuscata
• Boehm's Flycatcher, Muscicapa boehmi
• Swamp Flycatcher, Muscicapa aquatica
• Olivaceous Flycatcher, Muscicapa olivascens
• Chapin's Flycatcher, Muscicapa lendu
• Itombwe Flycatcher, Muscicapa (lendu) itombwensis
• African Dusky Flycatcher, Muscicapa adusta
• Little Grey Flycatcher, Muscicapa epulata
• Yellow-footed Flycatcher, Muscicapa sethsmithi
• Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Muscicapa comitata
• Tessmann's Flycatcher, Muscicapa tessmanni
• Cassin's Flycatcher, Muscicapa cassini
• Ashy Flycatcher, Muscicapa caerulescens

References

• Del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2006). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 11: Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 849655306X.
• Perrins, Christopher, ed. (2004) The New Encyclopedia of Birds, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
• Sinclair, Ian & Ryan, Peter (2003) Birds of Africa south of the Sahara, Struik, Cape Town.