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How about THIS one?



When I first spotted this bird I thought: “Ha! Easy one!” That, in spite of the fact that it obviously was something I had never seen before. The V-notch in the tail and the heavily edged primaries and tail feathers would be a give-away.

OK. Quickly flip through the Newman’s… Again, just a bit slower… s-l-o-w-e-r…
Pass the SASOL!



Now I have to ask you guys (again) ‘cause I am stumped by another LBJ!

After thorough searches I am now convinced the V-notch is there just to confuse me. I think the bird somehow lost some tail feathers and has not grown them back yet. Still, I cannot find an example to fit the rest of the detail, even if I ignore the tail completely. The front of the bird is unmarked and light grey or white.

Any takers for Ashy Flycatcher?

I forgot to mention the area (Rustenburg) which is outside the distribution of AFC.

Every time I snapped it, the bird must've stretched - all the shots are showing the V-notch! But, I do think it is abnormal (an old injury or something like that).

I would go with Grey Tit-Flycatcher (Fantailed Flycatcher)
The dark tail with white outers is very clear on this bird. The forked tail is a bit wierd but as these birds do fan their tail a lot, his feathers might simply be a bit ruffled

Looks like a Marico Flycatcher (Bradornis mariquensis) to me. Don't mind the notched tail too much. It's probably, as you said, as a result of molt in progress.

Please feel free to add your opinions to this topic. Pictures of Flycatchers will also be appreciated.

A picture Jumbo posted.
1. This bird shows what appears to be white outer rectices (tail feathers). It also has a white eye ring and what appears to be black loral spot. But this bird was said to be a Grey-Tit Flycatcher.



Jock's picture
2. We've identified this bird as Ashy Flycatcher. The pointer for me was the white eye ring. Most guides makes mention of a black loral spot or stripe, but I must be honest in saying that I can't see the absence of such spot in the case of Grey-Tit Flycatcher pictures I've seen.



Cois' picture
3. Cois id'ed this bird on its call as an Ashy Flycatcher. Most guides distinguishes the Ashy from the Grey-Tit Flycatcher in stating that the outer rectices are white in the case of the the Grey-Tit Flycatcher. Cois's picture shows that this can be misleading. Again the distinct white eye ring is present.


Now most guides also mentions that the best way to distinguish between Ashy and Grey-Tit Flycatcher is to look at the posture and fanned tail.
http://www.birdpics.co.za/ shows a picture of an Ashy Flycatcher with a fanned tail. It also has a non upright posture. So that actually proves the guides incorrect. Or is the picture mis-id'ed?

From the other pictures on http://www.birdpics.co.za/ of Grey-Tit Flycatcher, I got to the conclusion that the eye ring weren't as distinct and near perfect as that of an Ashy Flycatcher. Robert's field guide also notes that difference in the illustration.

Thus looking at picture 1, with the distinct, near perfect white eye ring, I would be tempted to say that it is also an Ashy Flycatcher and not a Grey-Tit Flycatcher as previously said.

Please give me your opinion on this. Also, what are the chances of hybridization between Ashy and Grey-Tit Flycatchers? I have read something about it somewhere. Can anyone help with this?

My picture
4. This one is a bit easier as the bird is dull grey and the breast streaked and the white eye ring being present. This will rule out the Spotted Flycatcher and thus points to Dusky Flycatcher.

3 pictures from Candy's Style.

5. Dusky Flycatcher



6. Dusky Flycatcher



7. Ashy Flycatcher

My honest opinion is that there is some degree of hybridization between Flycatcher species. I will really make an effort to get my hands on some possible documentation describing this.

If I fail at that I will visit the Transvaal Museum in Pretoria and ask the experts there what they think about it.

Concerning the difference between Ashy & Grey Tit-Flycatcher, I just want to add that the distinction is probably easier to make in the field than from a photo. When I saw my first Grey Tit-Flycatcher it was evident. The bird was behaving much more like a tit than a flycatcher: it was hopping around in a tree and sitting horizontally, rather than being perched up straight ready to swoop down on some unsuspecting 'fly'.

Besides, I think the GTF lacks the distinct white eye-ring, but this might be easier to see in a photo comparrison.

Two more from Jonty1.

The striped chest points to Dusky, but the eye brow is not short enough for Dusky. I would have to stick with my guns and say that this is an Ashy Flycatcher.

I will make a trip to the Transvaal museum and inquire about these Flycatchers. I need answers.

This is a very interesting discussion, WTM.
I do not have access to my bird guide but doubt that the ole Sassol would be of any use in this the case. I did however go and look at the photos on BirdPics and picked up something that I want to mention….do not know if I’m again just confusing myself more with this.

On most of the photos of the Grey Tit-Flycatcher, almost the whole of the under-tail appears to be white, not just the outer parts…..where on the Ashy Flycatcher it is dark ….on Francois’ photo of a AFC, most of the under tail is still dark even tho there are some white present. I think where confusion might come in, is when you have a Grey Tit-Flycatcher that do not have so much white and it then might be confused with a AFC…..on BirdPics there is one photo of an GFC that do not have so much white under the tail.
So, would it be correct then to say that if the whole of the under tail is white, that is a Grey Tit-Flycatcher?

If you look at the other photo I posted on the forum of the bird I saw, you can see that the whole under-tail appears to be white….not just the outer edges.

Larger view

As for the white eye ring, I have to be honest, I think lighting etc can really cause confusion (for me )….if I look at the last photo of the Grey Tit-Flycatcher on BirdPics (by Clive Kaplan), this bird also appears to have a white ring….but I’m not such an experienced birder and I’m sure the experts among you will not be confused by this as I am.

Another difference I can see between the Ashy and a Grey is that they Grey have obvious white (light) edges to the median wing coverts (I do not know if my terminology is right )….what do the experts think?



JoelR, I think I know exactly what you mean and in this respect the bird I have seen most definitely act like a the Grey Tit-Flycatcher…. I saw this bird again, 10 days ago (well, I presume that it is the same bird)…..only got 3 photos of it….not of much use…..and on this photo you can almost not even see the white under the tail. But this bird is VERY busy…. It does not sit still, not even for a second. On all 3 occasions I have been able to photograph the bird, it did not once sat perched up straight.
Just for interest sake….this one was actually following a Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike around.

Larger view



Eish…just to even more add to the confusion. It will be really great to find out more about this, WTM

the minute i get a photo i will post it!!

Hi WTM,

As far as I know the habitat preferences are totally different between Ashy Flycatcher and Grey Tit-Flycatcher. Ashy is usually in evergreen forests (well as far as I have seen them), and Grey Tit - Flycatcher will be in wooded areas but not forests.

I ringed this Ashy Flycatcher in Northern Natal in a evergreen forest.