Leaden Flycatcher
Myiagra rubecula
The Leaden Flycatcher (Myiagra rubecula) is a uncommon monarch flycatchers, paradise flycatchers, and shrikebill found in 3 countries, weighing about 12 g. The leaden flycatcher is a species of passerine bird in the family Monarchidae.
About the Leaden Flycatcher
The leaden flycatcher is a species of passerine bird in the family Monarchidae. Around 15 cm (6 in) in length, the male is lustrous azure with white underparts, while the female possesses leaden head, mantle and back and rufous throat and breast. It is found in eastern and northern Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical mangrove forests in the northern parts of its range, in the south and inland it is eucalypt woodland.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The leaden flycatcher is 14.5–16 cm (6-6½ in) long and weighs around 10–15 g. It is a shiny lead-grey in colour with a brownish tinge to the wings, a bluish black bill, black legs and dark brown iris. The male has darker grey lores, and a white breast and belly, while the female has an orange-tan throat and breast with a white belly. The juvenile resembles the adult female, but with paler wing-edges.
What the Leaden Flycatcher sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Leaden Flycatcher can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Leaden Flycatcher?
- The leaden flycatcher is 14.5–16 cm (6-6½ in) long and weighs around 10–15 g. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Leaden Flycatcher?
- The Leaden Flycatcher is a tiny sized bird weighing about 12 g.
- Where can you see a Leaden Flycatcher?
- The Leaden Flycatcher occurs in 3 countries, including Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.
- What does a Leaden Flycatcher sound like?
- You can listen to 2 field recordings of the Leaden Flycatcher on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Leaden Flycatcher?
- The Leaden Flycatcher is most easily confused with the Restless Flycatcher, the Paperbark Flycatcher and the Shining Flycatcher.
- Is the Leaden Flycatcher endangered?
- The Leaden Flycatcher is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Leaden Flycatcher for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.