Dark-sided Flycatcher

Scientific Name: Muscicapa sibirica

Malay Name: Sambar-Kusam Paruh Kecil

Chinese Name: 乌鹟

Range: Found from northern Indian subcontinent, Siberia, western and north-eastern China, Korea to Japan with northern population wintering in southern China and Southeast Asia

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: sibirica, gulmergi, cacabata, rothschildi.

Local Subspecies: sibirica, rothschildi

Size: 11.5-13 cm

Identification: Resembles Asian-brown Flycatcher but has darker upperparts, longer wings (tips reaching two thirds of the way down the tail), shorter and all black bill, smudgy greyish-brown breast/flanks and dark undertail-coverts centres. Juvenile has darker upperparts with distinct pale buff spots/streaks and scaled/blackish streaks on breast and flanks.

Similar looking species: Grey-streaked Flycatcher, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Brown-streaked Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Brown-breasted Flycatcher

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

Behaviour/Ecology: Usually solitary, frequenting the canopy and middle storey. Typically sits upright on exposed perch, sallying after flying insects.

Local Status: Uncommon migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)

Location: Central Catchment Forest, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Dairy Farm Nature Park, Bidadari, Singapore Botanic Gardens and other suitable habitats.

Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022, May 2022, Sep 2022, Oct 2022, Nov 2022, Dec 2022, Jan 2023, Feb 2023, Mar 2023, Apr 2023

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Dark-sided Flycatcher (ssp. sibirica) at Singapore Botanic Gardens. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Dark-sided Flycatcher at Bidadari. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Juvenile Dark-sided Flycatcher at Bidadari. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Dark-sided Flycatcher (ssp. sibirica) at Hindhede Park. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Dark-sided Flycatcher (ssp. rothschildi) at Bidadari. Photo Credit: Alan Ng
Dark-sided Flycatcher at Bidadari. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Juvenile Dark-sided Flycatcher at Bidadari. 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 (Dark-sided Flycatcher)

References:

BirdLife International. (2019). Muscicapa sibirica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22709204A155604903.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

Singapore Birds Project. (n.d.). Dark-sided Flycatcher. Retrieved on May 27, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/dark-sided-flycatcher.