African Blue Flycatcher
Elminia longicauda
The African Blue Flycatcher (Elminia longicauda) is a rare fairy flycatcher found in 22 countries, weighing about 10 g. The African blue flycatcher or blue-crested flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Stenostiridae from western and central Sub-Saharan Africa.
About the African Blue Flycatcher
The African blue flycatcher or blue-crested flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Stenostiridae from western and central Sub-Saharan Africa.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The African blue flycatcher is a dainty, pale, bright blue flycatcher with a short crest and long tail. The entire upper parts and tail are bright blue, shading between blue and cyan, with black lores and black flight feathers edged with blue, the underparts are greyish blue fading to whitish on the belly. The bill and legs are black. Juveniles are duller with faint greyish spotting on the head and wing coverts. It measures 15–18 cm (5.9–7.1 in) in length and weighs 7–12 g (0.25–0.42 oz). Voice: The song of the African blue flycatcher is a series of slow, rather random and tuneless sibilant notes strung together in no particular order. Call is a quiet "tsip".
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Congo - Brazzaville, Niger.
When to see it
The African Blue Flycatcher can be seen all year round, with peak activity in July. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an African Blue Flycatcher?
- The African blue flycatcher is a dainty, pale, bright blue flycatcher with a short crest and long tail. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an African Blue Flycatcher?
- The African Blue Flycatcher is a tiny sized bird weighing about 10 g.
- Where can you see an African Blue Flycatcher?
- The African Blue Flycatcher occurs in 22 countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana.
- What birds look similar to an African Blue Flycatcher?
- The African Blue Flycatcher is most easily confused with the White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, the White-tailed Crested Flycatcher and the White-bellied Crested Flycatcher.
- Is the African Blue Flycatcher endangered?
- The African Blue Flycatcher is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the African Blue Flycatcher for real
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