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Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (Microeca flavigaster) Alternate name(s): "Lemon-breasted Flycatcher", "Brown-tailed Flycatcher", "Kimberley Flycatcher", "Lemon-bellied Fly-robin" Size: 12.5-14 cm Body mass: 10-14 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Lemon-bellied Flycatchers are small robins. They have a large light-grey throat patch and lores and an otherwise lemon-yellow front, with some brownish tint on the neck. The back is greyish-brown. The wings are brown, the tail is grey. The eyes have brown irises. The short, straight bill, which is surrouned by "whiskers", is dark-grey. The legs and feet are also dark-grey. Juveniles have highly cryptic plumage. The front is brownish-grey with yellow tints on the belly and with darker-brown streaking on the breast. Both head and back are dark-brown, with copious lighter-brown and grey streaking.

Taxonomy, classification See Lemon-bellied Flycatcher at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Lemon-bellied Flycatcher is available HERE . Lemon-bellied Flycatchers are found in parts of New Guinea and in the tropical North of Australia. In Australia there are four different races, of which three are endemic. Nominate race "flavigaster", which is endemic, populates the Top End of the NT, from the estuary of the Ord River, WA, in the West, to the South coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria in the East, as far South as about 200 km South of Katherine, NT. Race "tormenti", which is endemic, populates only a narrow coastal strip along the Kimberley in north-eastern WA, to about 80 Mile Beach in the West. Race "flavissima" is found all over Cape York peninsula and farther to the North, across the Torres Strait. Race "laetissima", which is endemic, populates parts of the QLD East coast, from just to the North of Cairns to the tropic of Capricorn in the South. Lemon-bellied Flycatchers have a preference for woodland, especially mangroves in intertidal wetlands. Race "tormenti" is found exclusively in mangroves in intertidal wetlands.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "flavigaster" We have first spotted Lemon-bellied Flycatchers, race "flavigaster", in and around Darwin, NT, in August 2014. They are found regularly in the same area by several contributors. P. Brown found Lemon-bellied Flycatchers, race "flavigaster", farther inland, at Marlow's Lagoon, Palmerston, NT, in January 2018. Race "flavissima" B. Hensen reports finding a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher, race "flavissima", at Kutini Payamu (Iron Range) NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, in December 2018. M. Eaton reports spotting a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher, race "flavissima", at Lakefield NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, in August 2019. Another was found at Kutini Payamu (Iron Range) NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, in June 2024. M. Mearns found a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher, race "flavissima", at Normanton, QLD, in September 2019. This location, at the southern end of the Gulf of Carpentaria, is near the south-western edge of this race's range. Race "laetissima" M. Eaton reports finding a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher, race "laetissima", at Mission Beach, QLD, in September 2020. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours spotted a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher, race "laetissima", at Emu Creek, Irvinebank, QLD, in November 2019, and another at Herberton, QLD, in March 2020. The latter, in the Tablelands region, is on the western edge of their range, which is mostly confined to (near-)coastal areas.

Photos

Race "flavigaster"

ADULT

PAIR

Frontal view of a pair of Lemon-bellied Flycatchers (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, February 2018]

Near-dorsal/dorsal view of a pair of Lemon-bellied Flycatchers (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Marlow Lagoon, Palmerston, NT, January 2020]

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal view of an adult Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, June 2023]

Frontal view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher; click on photo to see a slightly different shot (photos courtesy of P. Brown)
[Marlow's Lagoon, Palmerston, NT, January 2018]

Frontal view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher issuing its call (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2020]

Frontal view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coomalie Creek, 90 km south of Darwin, NT, June 2018]

Closeup frontal view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, June 2023]

Near-frontal view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher; note how reflections of light off the underside of foliage around the bird can make it look more yellow-greenish (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, February 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher looking sideways (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, May 2018]

Lateral view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Charles Darwin NP, Darwin, NT, January 2019]

Lateral view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher issuing its call (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher looking sideways
[East Point, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a moulting Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coomalie Creek, 90 km south of Darwin, NT, June 2018]

Dorsal view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher looking sideways (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Robin Falls, Adelaide River, NT, June 2019]

Dorsal/ventral view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher looking sideways
[East Point, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Dorsal views of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher looking sideways (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, July 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral view of a sub-adult Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coomalie Creek, 90 km south of Darwin, NT, June 2018]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a sub-adult Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Marlow Lagoon, Palmerston, NT, December 2020]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Lemon-bellied Flycatcher looking at the observer (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, July 2014]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, July 2014]

Frontal view of a juvenile Lemon-bellied Flycatcher looking sideways (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, July 2014]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, July 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, July 2014]

Race "flavissima"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an adult Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lakefield NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Frontal view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lakefield NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Normanton, QLD, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lakefield NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Lateral view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Normanton, QLD, September 2019]

Lateral view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lakefield NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Lateral/ventral view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Iron Range NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, December 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Lemon-bellied Flycatcher; note the orange gape (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kutini Payamu (Iron Range) NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, June 2024]

Near-frontal view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kutini Payamu (Iron Range) NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, June 2024]

Race "laetissima"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher looking towards the observer
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Herberton, QLD, March 2020]

Lateral view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Emu Creek, Irvinebank, QLD, November 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, June 2024]

Near-dorsal view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, June 2024]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mission Beach, QLD, September 2020]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Mar

Eggs: 1

Incubation period: ?

Fledging age: ?

Together with the Yellow-legged Flychatcher, Lemon-bellied Flycatchers have the smallest nests of any Australian bird species, consisting of just a shallow rim of bark strips on top of a dead branch. They can have two broods per season.

Nest building: ?

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Bark strips, grass stems, webs

Height above ground: 1.5 - 10 m

Fledgling Lemon-bellied Flycatcher begging to be fed, moments after first leaving its nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Ludmilla Creek, Darwin, NT, April 2021]

Fledgling Lemon-bellied Flycatcher being fed, moments after first leaving its nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Ludmilla Creek, Darwin, NT, April 2021]

Fledgling Lemon-bellied Flycatcher begging to be fed (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Ludmilla Creek, Darwin, NT, April 2021]

Frontal view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher with chick in its nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Ludmilla Creek, Darwin, NT, April 2021]

Frontal view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher with chick in its nest, now issuing its call (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Ludmilla Creek, Darwin, NT, April 2021]

Frontal view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher chick in its nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Ludmilla Creek, Darwin, NT, April 2021]

Lemon-bellied Flycatcher at its nest on the end of a dead branch (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Botanic Garden, Darwin, NT, March 2018]

Lemon-bellied Flycatcher at its nest on the end of a dead branch (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Botanic Garden, Darwin, NT, March 2018]

Lemon-bellied Flycatcher on its nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Botanic Garden, Darwin, NT, March 2018]

Lemon-bellied Flycatcher on its nest (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, November 2018]

Lemon-bellied Flycatcher on its nest (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, November 2018]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 19 x 14 mm

Colour: Pale-blue, with light-brown speckles

Shape: Long tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Lateral view of a Lemon-bellied Flycatcher marking its territory from the top of a tree crown
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, August 2014]

Lemon-bellied Flycatcher marking its territory from the top of a dead tree; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 20 January 2018 (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, January 2018]

Food, Diet

Lemon-bellied Flycatcher with a flying insect it has just caught (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, February 2018]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

lemflyc_20140820.m4a	flavigaster (Darwin, NT)	Contact call	© MD
lemflyc_20140819_2.mp3	flavigaster (Darwin, NT)	Contact call	© MD
lemflyc_20140819_9.m4a	flavigaster (Darwin, NT)	Contact call	© MD
lemflyc_pb_20180120.m4a	flavigaster (Darwin, NT)	Contact calls	© PB
lemflyc_pb_20180120_2.m4a	flavigaster (Darwin, NT)	Contact calls	© PB
lemflyc_20140819_10.mp3	flavigaster (Darwin, NT)	(Abbreviated) contact call(?)	© MD
lemflyc_20140819_7.m4a	flavigaster (Darwin, NT)	Q&A (nearby first)	© MD
lemflyc_20140819_6.mp3	flavigaster (Darwin, NT)	Q&A (distant first)	© MD
lemflyc_20140819_8.mp3	flavigaster (Darwin, NT)	Q&A (distant first)	© MD
lemflyc_pb_20180121.m4a	flavigaster (Darwin, NT)	Extended contact call?	© PB
lemflyc_pb_20230303.mp3	flavigaster (Darwin, NT)	Alarm calls	© PB
lemflyc_20140819_3.m4a	flavigaster (Darwin, NT)	Various	© MD
lemflyc_pb_20210611.m4a	flavigaster (Darwin, NT)	?	© PB

More Lemon-bellied Flycatcher sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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