Erythrocercus mccallii
A diminutive and exquisitely marked denizen of the African understory, the Chestnut-capped Flycatcher (*Erythrocercus mccallii*) is a true gem for the keen birder. Measuring a mere 9-10 cm in length and weighing just 5-7 grams, this tiny passerine is instantly recognizable by its striking bright rufous-chestnut cap, which contrasts sharply with its slate-grey upperparts and pure white underparts. A distinctive rufous rump and tail, often cocked upwards, complete its charming appearance. Origi...
Found primarily in the understory and mid-canopy of tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, dense secondary growth, and gallery forests, typically up to 1,400 meters in elevation.
Exclusively insectivorous, feeding primarily on small insects and other arthropods gleaned from foliage or captured in short aerial sallies.
The Chestnut-capped Flycatcher is a highly active, diurnal bird, constantly flitting and darting through dense foliage. Its foraging strategy involves both gleaning insects from leaves and twigs and making short, agile sallies to catch flying insects. It often associates with mixed-species foragi...
The Chestnut-capped Flycatcher is a resident species distributed across a wide band of West and Central Africa. Its range extends from Sierra Leone eastward through Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and into Nigeria. Further east, it occurs from southeastern Nigeria through Cameroon, Equatorial Guin...
Least Concern
- Its taxonomic classification has been a puzzle for ornithologists for decades, bouncing between families like Muscicapidae, Monarchidae, and most recently, Erythrocercidae. - It is one of the smallest passerines in its range, often weighing less than a quarter of an ounce. - Despite its name 'F...