Asian Brown Flycatcher

Scientific Name: Muscicapa dauurica

Malay Name: Sambar-Kusam Biasa

Chinese Name: 北灰鹟

Range: Found from eastern Russia, northern China, Japan to Korea and winter to the Indian subcontinent, southern China and Southeast Asia

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: dauurica, poonensis, siamensis.

Local Subspecies: dauurica

Size: 12.5-13.5 cm

Identification: Nondescript flycatcher with brown upperparts and whitish underparts variably suffused with pale grey-brown on upper breast (usually lacking defined streaks), whitish eyering and pale greyish fringes to wing-coverts and tertials.

Similar looking species: Dark-sided Flycatcher, Brown-streaked Flycatcher, Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher, Taiga Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Brown-breasted Flycatcher

Habitat: Forest, parks, gardens, wooded areas and mangroves.

Behaviour/Ecology:

Local Status: Very common migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)

Location: Central Catchment Forest, Venus Drive, Lower Pierce Boardwalk, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Dairy Farm Nature Park, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Bidadari, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Pasir Ris Park, Sungei Buloh, Tuas South and other suitable habitats.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2013 to Jun 2023
Peak week Oct 29-Nov 04
Early date 20 Jul 2017
Late date 16 May 2015
The fall migration of this species builds up throughout September, reaching a peak in mid-October, and many remain throughout the winter.
Asian Brown Flycatcher at Bidadari. Photo Credit: Alan Ng
Asian Brown Flycatcher at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Asian Brown Flycatcher at Punggol. Photo Credit: Alan Ng
Asian Brown Flycatcher at Mt Faber. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Asian Brown Flycatcher)

References:

BirdLife International. (2019). Muscicapa dauurica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22709207A155604003.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Asian Brown Flycatcher. Retrieved on May 12, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/asian-brown-flycatcher.

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