Ficedula narcissina
The Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina) is a captivating small passerine, measuring approximately 13-14 cm (5.1-5.5 inches) in length, renowned for the male's spectacular breeding plumage. Males exhibit a striking combination of glossy black upperparts, crown, and sides of the head, brilliantly contrasted by a vivid orange-yellow throat, breast, and belly, a prominent white supercilium, and a large white wing patch. Their rump also glows with a bright yellow-orange hue. Females are con...
Breeding Narcissus Flycatchers prefer mature deciduous and mixed forests, often in hilly or mountainous terrain with dense undergrowth. During winter, they inhabit broadleaf evergreen forests, woodlands, and even gardens, typically at lower elevations.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of insects such as beetles, flies, moths, caterpillars, and spiders. During migration and winter, they may supplement their diet with small berries.
Narcissus Flycatchers are diurnal, active foragers that spend much of their day pursuing insects. They primarily employ a 'sallying' foraging technique, darting from a mid-story perch to snatch insects in flight, but also glean invertebrates from foliage and bark. During the breeding season, male...
The Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina sensu stricto) maintains a well-defined geographic distribution across East and Southeast Asia. Its primary breeding range encompasses the Japanese archipelago (from Hokkaido south through Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu), the Korean Peninsula, and the ex...
Least Concern
- The Narcissus Flycatcher is named after the mythological Greek character Narcissus, reflecting the male's strikingly beautiful and self-admiring appearance. - Its male plumage is considered one of the most vivid and aesthetically pleasing among Old World flycatchers. - The male's flute-like, me...