Slaty-backed Flycatcher Ficedula erithacus, male, Jiangxi Forest (32.076482, 97.064015), Qinghai, China, elev. 3650 m (11,980 ft.), July. Slaty-backed Flycatcher is a small, short-billed, long-tailed flycatcher. Male has deep-blue non-glistening upperparts and an orange breast. Ranges Nepal to northern Southeast Asia and north-central China (Beijing). Altitudinal migrant, breeding in oak-rhododendron and conifer forests from 2100–4300 m (6,890–14,110 ft.), winter to 200 m (660 ft.). (Craig Brelsford)White patches at base of male Slaty-backed Flycatcher’s tail distinguish from Hill Blue Flycatcher Cyornis whitei. Jiangxi Forest (32.076482, 97.064015), Qinghai, July. (Craig Brelsford)Slaty-backed Flycatcher is commonly reported in winter in Yunnan, especially in the far west and south. Nabang (24.770258, 97.584872), Yunnan, China, elev. 410 m (1,330 ft.), late January. (Craig Brelsford)Slaty-backed Flycatcher, female, Nabang (24.770025, 97.583115), Yunnan, January. Distinguished from female Slaty-blue FlycatcherF. tricolor by lack of rufous on tail. Female Little Pied FlycatcherF. westermanni is smaller and more compact (bull-headed) and whiter below. (Craig Brelsford)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Clement, P. (2006). Family Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers). Pp. 132–133 in: del Hoyo, J., A. Elliot, and D. A. Christie, eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 11. Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.
Grimmett, Richard, Carol Inskipp, Tim Inskipp, and Sherub (2019). Birds of Bhutan and the Eastern Himalayas. Helm/Bloomsbury, London.
MacKinnon, John (2022). Guide to the Birds of China. Oxford University Press.
THE FICEDULA FLYCATCHERS OF CHINA
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