Bradornis microrhynchus
The African Grey Flycatcher (Bradornis microrhynchus) is a subtly elegant passerine, renowned for its inconspicuous yet effective flycatching abilities across a vast range of sub-Saharan Africa. Measuring approximately 12-13 cm (4.7-5.1 inches) in length and weighing a mere 8-10 grams, it presents a drab but finely structured appearance: dull grey-brown on the upperparts, transitioning to an off-white or pale grey on the underparts, often with a faint buff wash on the flanks. A distinguishing...
This adaptable species primarily inhabits open woodlands, acacia savanna, thorn scrub, and dry bushland, typically at low to mid-elevations across its range.
Their diet consists almost exclusively of insects, including flies, beetles, grasshoppers, ants, and termites, primarily captured on the wing through aerial sallies.
The African Grey Flycatcher is a diurnal and active insectivore, spending its days sallying from exposed perches such as dead branches, tree tops, or fence posts to snatch flying insects mid-air, a classic flycatching technique. It also occasionally gleans prey from foliage or the ground. During ...
The African Grey Flycatcher boasts a wide, non-migratory distribution across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Its range extends from Eritrea and Ethiopia in the northeast, south through Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania in East Africa. Further west, it is found in parts of Sudan, and its distributi...
Least Concern
- Despite its name, its grey coloration can vary subtly, sometimes appearing more brownish depending on light and subspecies. - It is a classic 'sit-and-wait' predator, often spending long periods perched motionless before darting out for prey. - The genus *Bradornis* is often taxonomically merge...