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Habitat

(for details refer to a field guide)

Restless Flycatchers are endemic to Australia and found across large parts of the continent. Nominate race "inquieta" is found from the inland ranges just to the north-east of Cairns, QLD, at the base of Cape York peninsula, all the way south to VIC, not only along the coast and Great Dividing Range, but almost all of QLD (except the far south-western corner) and NSW (not the far north-western corner beyond Broken Hill). Their range includes all of VIC and the southern part of SA, up to almost the SA/WA border, including all of Eyre peninsula and Kangaroo Island. A second population is found in south-western WA, up to about Perth along the west coast and about Cape Arid National Park in the south.

Race "nana", the Paperbark Flycatcher, populates the tropical north of the continent, from the western edge of Cape York peninsula around the Gulf of Carpentaria, all the way across the northern continent to the Kimberleys, down to the geographical latitude of Mt. Isa, QLD, and Eighty Mile Beach, WA.

Restless Flycatchers can often be found in open forest or in remnant woodland. They adapt to the presence of humans very well and can be found hunting on paddocks and around farms. They have even been observed entering buildings or partios to hunt for insects under roofs.

Sightings

In 2003-2006 Restless Flycatchers (subspecies "inquieta") occasionally came to our garden and also to our neighbour's property 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW. Outwardly similar to Willie Wagtails (and therefore often mis-identified), they fly and hover differently and their call is very distinct. Restless Flycatchers are summer visitors in our area; during wintertime we have not seen any yet. Seen by us in 2004, 2005 and 2006; returned, after disappearing for the winter in March, in September of 2006.

In the winter of 2007 also spotted 20 km east of Narrabri. After a few months absence, reappeared in January 2008. Also seen on the western fringe of Mt. Kaputar National Park, 30 km east of Narrabri, in August 2008. From September to October 2008 their number increased in the area, indicating that they are locally nomadic. The next sighting 20 km east of Narrabri was in January 2011, when a pair started hunting insects around the house and garden.

A fledgling Restless Flycatcher was seen by us near Walgett, NSW, in October 2010.

Photos

Near-frontal view of a Restless Flycatchers; they sometimes come very close to humans, e.g. when picking off insects under patio roofs, as shown here

This close-up shot clearly shows its rictal bristles, i.e. the hairlike feathers around the bill

More lateral view of a Restless Flycatcher hunting from a washing line

Lateral view of a Restless Flycatcher with almost entirely white frontal plumage and a glossy blue-black back

The same bird as above, now with a clear view of its bill from above

Lateral view of a male Restless Flycatcher; one can see clearly the glossy blue-black feathers on its back; the buff colour patch on the breast is very faint

This is how it produces its incredible call... Note the pronounced buff breast patch, tapering off into a paler tint further down, while its throat is white

Restless Flycatcher in fresh plumage, giving it a buff tint all over its front parts which will turn white as the feather tips wear

Here we have a Restless Flycatcher with a fashionable new hairdo - crown feathers being swept forward by a tailwind

The typical hovering flight of a hunting Restless Flycatcher

This bird was caught on photo when just preparing to land on a branch; one can see the pattern of the underwing plumage

Fledgling Restless Flycatcher; another (bad) photo shows that the bird's bill is still partly yellow; note also the short tail

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Food

Like all other members of the Myiagra family known to us, Restless Flycatchers are insect hunters (as their name already suggests).

This Restless Flycatcher has taken an ant

Here one taking a larger insect

Occasionally also seen by us (during winter) to take psyllids/lerps from the underside of eucalypt leaves in hovering flight.

Additional information

There is a separate page with a short description of Psyllids and lerps.