Fraseria cinerascens
The White-browed Forest Flycatcher (Fraseria cinerascens) is a rather stocky, medium-sized passerine, typically measuring around 14-15 cm (5.5-6 inches) in length and weighing approximately 15-20 grams. Its plumage is predominantly a soft, uniform ash-grey, contrasting sharply with a distinct white supercilium or 'brow' that extends above the eye, serving as its most prominent field mark. Darker grey wings and tail, along with a pale belly, complete its subtle yet effective camouflage within ...
This species primarily inhabits lowland to mid-elevation primary and mature secondary rainforests, favoring the dense understory and often found near forest streams or clearings.
Their diet consists almost exclusively of insects, including beetles, ants, and flies, which they primarily capture through aerial hawking from a perch or by gleaning from foliage.
White-browed Forest Flycatchers are diurnal birds, typically observed singly or in pairs, often staying well-hidden in the forest undergrowth. Their foraging strategy involves making short, rapid sallies from low perches to snatch flying insects in mid-air, a classic 'flycatching' technique. They...
The White-browed Forest Flycatcher is a resident species found across a wide belt of West and Central Africa. Its distribution spans from Sierra Leone and Liberia in the west, eastward through Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria. Further east, it occurs in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (...
Least Concern
- The genus name 'Fraseria' honors Louis Fraser, a British zoologist and collector who explored parts of West Africa in the mid-19th century. - Its scientific species name, 'cinerascens,' is Latin for 'ash-grey,' aptly describing its characteristic plumage. - Despite its 'flycatcher' designation,...