Jungle Flycatcher 5/5 - Rufous-tailed Jungle Flycatcher (Lifer 570/688)

Yes I can close the chapter on Jungle Flycatchers (5 species) of Malaysia. This is a resident bird of Borneo Sabah and more a Sulawesi descent. It is a highland flycatcher where else the Grey-chested Fc is a lowland bird in Malaysia. It is also called Crocker Jungle Fc,

 There is not much writing of this bird. It is almost similar looking as the Grey-chested but smaller at 18cm

Jungle Flycatcher (4/5) - Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher (Lifer 564/688)

 

Burly brownish flycatcher with a clean white throat, a warm bib, and a faintly hooked dark bill. Overall plainness and structure separate it from female “blue flycatchers” and migrant “brown flycatchers”. Gray-chested Jungle-Flycatcher has more evident gray wash on the head, overall darker upperparts, and lack of warm tones in the tail; its breast band is thicker overall, and is generally more gray-toned (though it can sometimes appear brownish). Rufous-tailed Jungle-Flycatcher is more slender and has a brighter rufous tail than Fulvous-chested; it is found at higher elevations where the two overlap in range. A bird of lowland forests and forest edges, typically in drier habitat. Flycatches from mid-level perches and sings an indescribably beautiful cascading series of high jingling notes.

Jungle flycatcher (3/5) August 2020 - Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher (Lifer 540)

In Peninsula Malaysia we can sight 2 subspecies of Jungle Flycatchers. This one here is a resident of Malaysia virgin jungle. whilst the Brown-chested is a winter migrant visitor. The Fulvous Jungle Flycatcher has not being recorded  in  Malaysia as far as I know but in Southern Thailand and Borneo.

We were lucky to  see a pair during our last hour there.

The bird has a pure white triangular throat patch and the chest is buff to grey in color.  Its also has pale lores  with pale brownish eyering. The beak is totally black and they have pale legs.

I will need to go to Borneo Sabah to  see the other two lifers namely the Fulvous and Rufous -tailed .

 

Jungle Flycatcher (1/5) - Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher (lifer 523)

Brown-chested  Jungle Flycatcher is a passage migrant passing thru Peninsula Malaysia. We chance on a beautiful specimen here in Johor.  It is seldom sighted up north or central peninsula as they do not stop for long period but continue moving south. So chances are better here down south nearer Singapore which is one of their last stops.

The bird has a yellowish lower mandible. Coming in at 16 cm;  it is one large flycatcher and it has the largest of a hooked tipped beak. I mistakenly id it as a babbler at first because of its beak but why is it so quiet. Then notice its "chit-chitting" call like many Fc. Will post it vocalizing later.  The throat is mottling/speckle white as compared to the resident Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher which has a distinct white throat. 





They breed in the mountainous broadleaved forests of southern and central China (ie. Hunan, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guizhou). Brown-chested Jungle Flycatchers head south from August onwards, briefly passing through northern Vietnam. By mid-September, they would have reached Central Thailand, as confirmed by regular sightings around Bangkok. Thus sightings in Peninsula to Singapore are sighted from the last few days of September to early November and there are very few records of birds staying through winter.  

Their last stop is supposedly in Sumatera. Some like this one may stop and stay in Johor and/or cross the causeway or Malacca Straits.

Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher is rarely seen because it has forest dweller in dense patches of undergrowth in woodlands and forests, perching motionless on a low twig while watching the ground for grub and insect.  Many birdwatchers are thus likely to have walked past the flycatcher without realizing that it is there, just meters away in the bushes. 

Secondly, the brownish color tones of the Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher is well blended well with the background. See la pictures. It is usually a loner and to do not follow bird wave, unlike APFc.

Thirdly, not many people know the calls the Brown-chested Jungle-Flycatcher makes. Post later.








This bird should be on its way back to its breeding ground up north but I wonder as it is way past Spring now......maybe it has decided stay on until next year. 

Jungle Flycatcher 2/5 - Eyebrowed Jungle Flycatcher (Lifer 504 Bornean 8/100)

This flycatcher is endemic to Borneo. It is totally different from our peninsula Snowy-brow and Rufous-browed which are also highland birds.

The adult male and female have identical features but I would expect  the male to have more distinct stronger colours compared to the female.

It is a medium size flycatcher with reddish brown upperpart and the salient feature is it pure white throat and white brow. It has pale speckled  greyish chest and pale legs

It is silent, but has loud churring call in breeding season; sharp “prrrt” alarm. We tried calling it back but it did not response to our playback. 

They are solidatory bird and mating and breeding start as early January till April and fledging can be seen in month of May onwards.




Its nest is a cup shaped or a large untidy ball of small sticks moss dry fern fronds and leaves.

Misty condition and low light condition at Silau-silau

During our 2 days birding there;  we manage to chance on it at Silau-silau and near Pandanus Trail