Myiagra ruficollis
The Broad-billed Flycatcher (*Myiagra ruficollis*) is a striking member of the Monarchidae family, commonly known as monarch flycatchers. This small, agile passerine typically measures 14-17 cm (5.5-6.7 inches) in length, characterized by its distinctive broad, flattened bill, which is bluish-grey with a darker tip. Adult males boast iridescent blue-black upperparts, head, and an often incomplete breast band, contrasting sharply with a bright rufous throat and upper breast that fades to pure ...
Found primarily in lowland tropical and subtropical forests, especially coastal mangroves, paperbark swamps, and riverine woodlands, typically below 500 meters (1,640 feet) elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of flying insects caught almost exclusively by aerial hawking, with occasional gleaning from foliage.
Broad-billed Flycatchers are diurnal birds, highly active during the day and typically roosting solitarily or in pairs amongst dense foliage. Their primary foraging strategy is aerial hawking: they perch conspicuously, often on exposed branches, and sally forth to snatch flying insects mid-air wi...
The Broad-billed Flycatcher boasts an expansive distribution across the Australasian and Indomalayan realms, primarily residing in lowland tropical and subtropical regions. Its breeding and year-round range encompasses northern Australia, stretching from the Kimberley region of Western Australia ...
Least Concern
- The 'broad bill' for which it is named is an adaptation for its aerial insect-catching foraging style, allowing it to snap up prey mid-flight with greater efficiency. - This species belongs to the Monarchidae family, often referred to as 'monarch flycatchers,' a diverse group of Old World passe...