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Leaden Flycatcher

(Myiagra rubecula)
Size: 15-16 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Leaden Flycatchers are breeding migrants to Australia from the north. There are in total five races, one of which ("papuana") does not come to the Australian mainland. The others are found along the north and east coast of the continent (only rarely in Tasmania). Nominate race "rubecula", which is found along the coastline and ranges of VIC and NSW, up to the Clarence River, during the breeding season, migrates only to northern QLD, not across the Torres Strait. Occasionally, they extend their range to the western side of the Great Dividing Range, as far west as e.g. Mungindi, NSW. Race "yorki" is found north of the Clarence River and along the QLD east coast, up to about the base of the Cape York peninsula (near Cairns, QLD). Race "okyri" is found on Cape York and to the south-west of Cairns, up to the southern tip of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Farther west one finds race "concinna", all through the top end of the NT and the Kimberleys in WA, up to about Broome, WA.

Leaden Flycatchers can usually be found in open forest.

Sightings

Leaden Flycatchers are a rare sight in our area, near Narrabri, NSW. A female bird was first spotted by us in December 2006 in Deriah Forest, 30 km east of Narrabri. Two immature birds were spotted at Upper Bullawa Creek, 40 km east of Narrabri, in November 2008. In October 2008 a male was seen 15 km east of Narrabri. Again spotted in the same area, 15 km east of Narrabri, in October 2010. This was relatively early in the breeding season of migratory species and territorial fights were going on. A pair was spotted in the same area in October 2011.

Also spotted by C. Kellenberg at Inskip Point, QLD, in January 2009.

Photos