- Restless Flycatcher
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Restless Flycatcher 
Restless flycatcher in flight Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Monarchidae Genus: Myiagra Species: M. inquieta Binomial name Myiagra inquieta
(Latham, 1802)The Restless Flycatcher, Myiagra inquieta, is a passerine bird in the family Monarchidae.
Photographed at Dayboro, SE Queensland, Australia
Also known colloquially as Scissors Grinder or Dishwasher on account of its unusual call,[2] the Restless Flycatcher was first described by ornithologist John Latham in 1802. Its specific epithet is derived from the Latin inquietus 'restless'.[3] Populations from northern Australia and New Guinea, formerly considered a distinctive subspecies, are now separated as the Paperbark Flycatcher (Myiagra nana), with which it forms a superspecies.[4][5]
It is found in southern and eastern Australia. It is about 20 cm (8 in) long, with a glossy dark blue crown, a grey back and white underparts. It is similar to the Willie Wagtail, though the lack of a black throat and white eyebrow are distinguishing features. Its main food is insects.
This bird builds a cup-shaped nest from shredded bark and grasses, matted and bound with spider-webbing. Linings used are soft bark, grasses, hair or feathers. It is often decorated with lichen, strips of bark or spiders' egg sacs. The nest site is in the fork of a well-foliaged tree mostly near or overhanging water, though it can be up to twenty or more metres above the ground.[6]
Footnotes
- ^ IUCN redlist.
- ^ Boles 1988, p. 349.
- ^ Simpson 1979, p. 883.
- ^ Schodde & Mason 1999, pp. 518–519.
- ^ Christidis & Boles 2008, p. 200.
- ^ Beruldsen 2003, p. 369.
- References
- BirdLife International (2009). "Myiagra inquieta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/147013. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
- Cited texts
- Beruldsen, Gordon (2003). Australian Birds: Their Nests and Eggs (revised ed.). Kenmore Hills, Qld: self. ISBN 978-0-646-42798-0. OCLC 615122047.
- Boles, Walter E. (1988). The Robins and Flycatchers of Australia. Sydney: Angus & Robertson. ISBN 978-0-207-15400-3. OCLC 59196420.
- Christidis, Les; Boles, Walter (2008). Systematics and taxonomy of Australian birds. Melbourne: CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 978-0-643-06511-6. OCLC 488685950. http://books.google.com/?id=SFP9P1i-PoEC&pg=PA200&dq=%22Myiagra+nana%22#v=onepage&q=%22Myiagra%20nana%22&f=false. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
- Schodde, Richard; Mason, Ian J. (1999). The Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines. Melbourne: CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 978-0-643-06456-0. OCLC 499953986.
- Simpson, D. P. (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary (5 ed.). London: Cassell Ltd.. ISBN 978-0-304-52257-6. OCLC 7260402.
Restless flycatcher
Contrary to their name, Restless flycatchers do not only eat flies. Here, one is pictured with a huntsman spider.External links
- ABID Images
- Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta) videos and photos at Internet Bird Collection
Categories:- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Monarchidae
- Birds of South Australia
- Birds of Western Australia
- Birds of New South Wales
- Birds of Victoria (Australia)
- Birds of Queensland
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