Green-backed Flycatcher

Green-backed Flycatcher

Scientific Name: Ficedula elisae

Malay Name: Sambar-Kunyit Hijau

Chinese Name: 绿背姬鹟

Alternative Name(s): Chinese Flycatcher

Range: Breeds in northeastern China and winters to southern China and Southeast Asia.

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 13-13.5 cm

Identification: Male has olive-green upperparts with white wing patch and yellowish loral stripe, eyering, rump and underparts. Female resembles male but has paler yellowish underparts, no yellow rump and the white wing patch is replaced by two faint narrow pale bars on wing-coverts.

Similar looking species: Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, Narcissus Flycatcher

Habitat: Forest, parks, gardens and wooded areas.

Behaviour/Ecology: Prefers to forage at the lower storey in typical flycatcher pattern for insects.

Local Status: Uncommon migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Central Catchment Forest, Venus Drive, Lower Pierce, Bidadari, Bishan Park and Tuas South.

Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022, Oct 2022, Nov 2022, Dec 2022, Jan 2023, Feb 2023, Mar 2023, Apr 2023, Jan 2024, Feb 2024, Mar 2024, Dec 2024, Mar 2025, Apr 2025

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Green-backed Flycatcher Ficedula elisae
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak week Feb 19-Feb 25
Early date 06 Sep 2016
Late date 30 Apr 2021
Once considered a rare migrant to Singapore, this species is now known to be much commoner, with several records from various sites every year.
Male Green-backed Flycatcher at Rifle Range. Photo Credit: Zahidi Hamid
Male Green-backed Flycatcher at Rifle Range Link. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Green-backed Flycatcher at Dairy Farm Nature Park. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Green-backed Flycatcher at Dillenia Hut. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Male Green-backed Flycatcher at Taman Ampang Rimba, Kuala Lumpur. Photo Credit: Chong Boon Leong aka Wokoti
Green-backed Flycatcher at Dairy Farm Nature Park. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Male Green-backed Flycatcher at Rifle Range Link. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Green-backed 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 (Green-backed Flycatcher)

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Ficedula elisae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103769400A104316829.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

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.). Green-backed Flycatcher. Retrieved on June 19, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/green-backed-flycatcher.

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