Ficedula mugimaki
The Mugimaki Flycatcher is a diminutive yet striking passerine, an Old World flycatcher belonging to the genus Ficedula. Males are instantly recognizable by their glossy black upperparts, prominent white supercilium extending from the bill to the nape, a vivid orange-red throat and breast that fades to a clean white belly, and a distinctive white patch on the primaries of the wing. Measuring approximately 13-13.5 cm in length and weighing a mere 10-15 grams, their bold coloration makes them s...
Breeding occurs in coniferous, mixed broadleaf-coniferous, and deciduous forests, often in montane or submontane regions; wintering habitats include lowland forests, woodlands, parks, and gardens, frequently near water.
Primarily insectivorous, consuming small flying insects, larvae, and spiders, which they catch by aerial hawking; during migration and winter, they supplement their diet with small berries and fruit.
Mugimaki Flycatchers are diurnal birds, primarily active during daylight hours, foraging solitarily or in small, loose groups outside the breeding season. Their preferred foraging technique involves aerial hawking; they perch patiently on an exposed branch, scanning for flying insects, then sally...
The Mugimaki Flycatcher has an extensive migratory range across East and Southeast Asia. Its breeding grounds are found in temperate Northeast Asia, encompassing eastern Siberia, Sakhalin Island, the Kuril Islands, northeastern China (including Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces), and No...
Least Concern
- The name "Mugimaki" is Japanese for "wheat sower," referring to the bird's arrival in Japan during the traditional wheat planting season. - Despite its small size of only 13 cm, this species undertakes an incredible annual migration, traveling thousands of kilometers between its breeding ground...