21

Leaden Flycatcher

(Myiagra rubecula)
: "Blue Flycatcher", "Frogbird"
Size: 15-16 cm
Weight: 10-15 g

Similar
species

Description

Classification

Distribution

Sightings

Photos

Breeding

Nest

Eggs

Behaviour

Food

Call/s

Physical description

Click here for physical description of this species Click here for a physical description

Leaden Flycatchers are small flycatchers. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are different. Like all Australian flycatchers, they have "whiskers" on both sides of the bill. Male Leaden Flycatchers have a lead-grey head, throat and upper chest. The back is also lead-grey, with darker grey flight feathers with lighter grey leading edges. The rest of the front, from lower chest to undertail coverts, is off-white. The undertail is light-grey. Female Leaden Flycatchers have a dull-grey head and back. The flight feathers have brown leading edges. The front, from the throat to the upper chest, is dull orange-rufous. The rest of the front is off-white, like the males'. Females have thin, inconspicuous light-grey eye-rings. Both sexes have eyes with dark-brown irises. They both have a small erectile crest. The legs and feet are grey. Juveniles have highly cryptic plumage. They have a greyish-brown front (throat, chest); the rest of the front is off-white. Apart from off-white eyebrows, the rest of the head is greyish-brown. The rest of the back is dark-brown, with some light grey streaking. The flight feathers have rufous-brown leading edges.

Twitcher's tip

Broad-billed Flycatchers and Leaden Flycatchers can be distinguished by the shape of their bill, as shown in the combined photo below.

Shape of the bill of a female Broad-billed Flycatcher, left, and a male Leaden Flycatcher, right; note the broad, double-convex shape of the former, while the latter is almost triangular, with little outward curvature

Compared with Satin Flycatchers and Broad-billed Flycatchers, both male and female Leaden Flycatchers have the dullest colours.

Taxonomy, classification

See Leaden 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 Leaden Flycatcher is available HERE .

There are in total five races of Leaden Flycatchers, with a range extending from southern New Guinea, the islands of the Bismarck archipelago to Australia. Race "papuana" does not come to the Australian mainland.

Leaden Flycatchers are breeding migrants to Australia from the North. There are four races on the Australian mainland, which are found along the North and East coast of the continent and adjacent ranges, from the Kimberley in the West all the way to southern VIC (only rarely in Tasmania). Nominate race "rubecula", which, during the breeding season, is found along the coastline and ranges of VIC and NSW, up to the Clarence River, 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 westward 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 peninsula 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 Kimberley in WA, up to about Broome, WA.

Leaden Flycatchers can usually be found in woodland and open forest.

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Race "rubecula"

R. Plumtree reports spotting Leaden Flycatchers, race "rubecula", near Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, in February 2014, in October 2017 and again in October 2018.

Race "yorki"

Leaden Flycatchers, race "yorki", were first spotted by us in December 2006 in Deriah Aboriginal Area, 30 km East of Narrabri.

Subsequent sightings on the western edge of the Great Dividing Range were usually in riparian woodland, e.g. at Upper Bullawa Creek, Mt. Kaputar NP, 40 km East of Narrabri, in November 2008 and at two locations farther West (Eulah Creek and Bullawa Creek SCA), in the foothills 15-20 km East of Narrabri, on various occasions since 2008. They usually arrive in the area in the timeframe September/October, leaving again round about March.

Leaden Flycatchers, race "yorki", have also been found by us in drier habitats, e.g. in Jack's Creek State Forest, on the northern edge of the Pilliga scrub, 30 km South of Narrabri, in September 2008. R. Druce reports seeing Leaden Flycatchers, race "yorki", in Leard State Forest, NSW, in October 2012.

Leaden Flycatchers, race "yorki", are reported to us regularly from various near-coastal locations in central and south-eastern QLD.

Click here for sighting information Race "concinna"

B. Hensen reports spotting Leaden Flycatchers, race "concinna", in Darwin, NT, in March 2013.

P. Brown reports finding Leaden Flycatchers, race "concinna", semi-regularly in various locations in and around Darwin, NT. They were also found near Timber Creek, NT, in March 2021.

M. Eaton found Leaden Flycatchers, race "concinna", in various locations of the Top End, NT, in July 2020.

Click here for sighting information Race "okryi"

M. Eaton reports spotting Leaden Flycatchers, race "okryi", at various locations on Cape York peninsula, QLD, in August 2019.

J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours reports finding Leaden Flycatchers, race "okryi", regularly at various locations on Cape York peninsula, QLD.

Photos

Race "rubecula"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Leaden Flycatcher looking for prey (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2017]

Near-frontal view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2017]

Near-lateral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2017]

Lateral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2017]

Lateral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher issuing its call (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2017]

FEMALE

Female Leaden Flycatcher flapping its wings, possibly indicating a suitable nest site (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a female Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2017]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a fledgling Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay Doctors Flat Road, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2018]

Race "yorki"

ADULT

MALE

Full-frontal view of a male Leaden Flycatcher cooling on a 40 C day
[Near Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, December 2019]

Frontal view of a male Leaden Flycatcher; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 27 November 2014
[Bullawa Creek SCA, near Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Frontal view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cairns, QLD, July 2018]

Near-frontal view of a male Leaden Flycatcher cooling on a 40 C day
[Near Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, December 2019]

Near-lateral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 27 November 2014
[Bullawa Creek SCA, near Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Near-lateral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, September 2017]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Bullawa Creek SCA, near Narrabri, NSW, September 2020]

Close-up lateral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]

Close-up lateral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher
[Bullawa Creek SCA, near Narrabri, NSW, October 2010]

Lateral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cairns, QLD, July 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Boondall Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, August 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a male Leaden Flycatcher
[Near Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Dorsal view of a male Leaden Flycatcher
[Near Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, December 2019]

Dorsal view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Boondall Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, August 2017]

Male Leaden Flycatcher diving from its perch

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Leaden Flycatcher
[Near Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, December 2019]

Frontal view of a female Leaden Flycatcher wagging its tail
[Near Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, December 2019]

Frontal view of a female Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, April 2018]

Frontal view of a female Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, February 2017]

Frontal/ventral view of a female Leaden Flycatcher cooling on a 40 C day
[Near Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, December 2019]

Near-frontal view of a female Leaden Flycatcher
[Near Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, December 2019]

Near-frontal view of a female Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, April 2018]

Near-frontal view of a female Leaden Flycatcher, (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Fraser Island, QLD, September 2018]

Near-lateral view of a female Leaden Flycatcher; the paleness of its colours may suggest that its plumage is worn
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Boondall Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, August 2017]

Near-lateral view of a female Leaden Flycatcher
[Near Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, December 2019]

Near-lateral view of a female Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Fleming)
[Near Baradine, NSW, January 2021]

Near-lateral view of a female Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, April 2018]

Lateral view of a female Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, November 2019]

Lateral view of a female Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, February 2013]

Lateral view of a female Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]

Lateral view of a calling female Leaden Flycatcher, showing that females can also erect their crest
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Fraser Island, QLD, September 2018]

Clear view of a female Leaden Flycatcher's "whiskers" and bill (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Noosa, QLD, December 2017]

Lateral/ventral view of a female Leaden Flycatcher
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2014]

Female Leaden Flycatcher preening
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2014]

Female Leaden Flycatcher looking for prey (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, February 2013]

Near-dorsal view of a female Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, April 2018]

Dorsal view of a female Leaden Flycatcher with its head turned
[Near Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, December 2019]

Dorsal view of a female Leaden Flycatcher
[Near Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, December 2019]

PAIR

Near-frontal view of a pair of Leaden Flycatchers
[Bullawa Creek SCA, NSW, September 2022]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a pair of Leaden Flycatchers
[Bullawa Creek SCA, NSW, September 2022]

Male Leaden Flycatcher, left, trying to impress female, right, with his song (below)
[Bullawa Creek SCA, near Narrabri, NSW, October 2019]

ledflyc_20191009.m4a

yorki?
(NW NSW)

Courtship calls: male first, then female (faint)

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral view of an immature male Leaden Flycatcher moulting into adult plumage; this bird was found together with a female
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2018]

The rufous flight feathers and the dull-grey head characterize this bird as an immature female Leaden Flycatcher
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, November 2008]

Race "concinna"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, March 2013]

Near-frontal view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Channel Island Road, Darwin, NT, July 2018]

Near-lateral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casurina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, September 2018]

Near-lateral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Channel Island Road, Darwin, NT, July 2018]

Lateral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Fannie Bay, Darwin, NT, May 2018]

Lateral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, March 2013]

Lateral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Channel Island Road, Darwin, NT, July 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a male Leaden Flycatcher still wet after a bath (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Policemans Point, near Timber Creek, NT, March 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Fannie Bay, Darwin, NT, May 2018]

Ventral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Channel Island Road, Darwin, NT, July 2018]

FEMALE

Frontal/ventral view of a female Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, March 2013]

Near-lateral view of a female Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Palmerston Golf Course, Palmerston, NT, July 2020]

Near-lateral view of a female Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mary River Wilderness Retreat, NT, July 2020]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a female Leaden Flycatcher with its catch; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 19 March 2020 (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Manton Dam, 50 km S of Darwin, NT, March 2020]

Race "okryi"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal/ventral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Loyalty Beach, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Near-lateral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Cape Tribulation, QLD, November 2019]

Lateral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Jardine River, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Lateral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Jardine River, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Lateral view of a male Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Cape Tribulation, QLD, November 2019]

FEMALE

Frontal/ventral view of a female Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Cape Tribulation, QLD, November 2019]

Lateral/ventral view of a female Leaden Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gunshot Creek, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Oct - Jan Eggs: 2 - 3 Incubation period: 14 - 15 days Fledging age: 15 - 17 days

The breeding season depends on geographic latitude. October to January, as listed above, is the core breeding season for Leaden Flycatchers in the East and South-East of Australia. In the tropical North, Leaden Flycatchers breed preferably from August to February.

Nest building: Female & male Incubation: Female & male Dependent care: Female & male

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

Type: Basket Material: Bark strips, webs; lined with root fibres Height above ground: 4 - 20 m

Leaden Flycatchers have the characteristic habit of placing their nests on a branch right under another branch, shielding them from view from above. Possibly feeling secure in such a protected location, Leaden Flycatchers, both males and females, are known to call while sitting on their nest.

"Change of the guard" at a Leaden Flycatcher nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin Airport, Darwin, NT, November 2021]

View of the location of a Leaden Flycatcher nest on a minor branch of a eucalypt tree
[Bullawa Creek SCA, 15 km East of Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Female Leaden Flycatcher approaching its well-camouflaged nest
[Bullawa Creek SCA, 15 km East of Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Female Leaden Flycatcher sitting on its nest, watching the observer
[Bullawa Creek SCA, 15 km East of Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Female Leaden Flycatcher here seen sitting on its nest looking the other way
[Bullawa Creek SCA, 15 km East of Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Here the same female Leaden Flycatcher as shown above is seen calling while sitting on its nest
[Bullawa Creek SCA, 15 km East of Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Female Leaden Flycatcher bringing bark strips to its nest, which is located on a small knob of a dead minor branch
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]

Here the same female Leaden Flycatcher is seen gluing bark strips to its nest, presumably with threads of a spider's web
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]

After attaching another bark strip, this male Leaden Flycatcher is checking its nest in the making
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]

In what we would consider a tactical mistake, he then erected his crest and then started marking his territory by singing while on the nest
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]

Here the completed Leaden Flycatcher nest
[Near Narrabri, NSW, October 2014]

Female Leaden Flycatcher on its nest, in this case without another branch right above it (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Fogg Dam CR, NT, October 2020]

Additional information

A. Morris and S. Grey report that Leaden Flycatchers like to take advantage of the protection offered by nesting under a Noisy Friarbird nest. There is a separate page about various bird species nesting under the umbrella of a stronger, protective species.

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

Size: 18 x 14 mm Colour: Creamy, with a ring of light-brown speckles Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Migratory Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Male Leaden Flycatcher calling while sitting on its nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin Airport, Darwin, NT, November 2021]

Female Leaden Flycatcher calling while sitting on its nest (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin Airport, Darwin, NT, November 2021]

This female Leaden Flycatcher is the first and only flycatcher (robins etc. included) that we have ever seen holding its prey with a foot
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]

Male Leaden Flycatcher dipping into a waterhole for a bath
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, September 2013]

Food, Diet

Like all other members of the Myiagra family known to us, Leaden Flycatchers are insect hunters.

We have made the experience that many species that take live prey also take much of the water they require out of their prey. However, in December 2019 we have now found Leaden Flycatchers also drinking water (see photos below).

Female Leaden Flycatcher with its prey
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2011]

Male Leaden Flycatcher having a drink of water on a 40 C day
[Near Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, December 2019]

Female Leaden Flycatcher having a drink of water on a 40 C day
[Near Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, December 2019]

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.

ledflyc_20190930_3.m4a	yorki? (NW NSW)	Contact calls? (male)	© MD
ledflyc_20211002_3.m4a	yorki? (NW NSW)	Contact calls? (pair Q&A)	© MD
ledflyc_20220917.mp3	yorki? (NW NSW)	Contact calls? (pair Q&A)	© MD
ledflyc_20191215_2.m4a	yorki? (NW NSW)	Territorial calls(?) (male)	© MD
ledflyc_20211002_2.m4a	yorki? (NW NSW)	Territorial calls(?) (competing males)	© MD
ledflyc_20211002.m4a	yorki? (NW NSW)	Territorial calls(?) (competing males)	© MD
ledflyc_20181113.m4a	yorki? (NW NSW)	Various (male)	© MD
ledflyc_20190930_2.m4a	yorki? (NW NSW)	Various (male)	© MD
ledflyc_20190930.m4a	yorki? (NW NSW)	Various (male)	© MD
ledflyc_20191215.m4a	yorki? (NW NSW)	(?) (male, while preening)	© MD

ledflyc_pb_20211026.m4a	concinna (Top End, NT)	Contact calls? (on nest)	© PB
ledflyc_pb_20200702.m4a	concinna (Top End, NT)	Contact calls? Q&A	© PB
ledflyc_pb_20180611.m4a	concinna (Top End, NT)	Territorial calls?	© PB
ledflyc_pb_20190915.m4a	concinna (Top End, NT)	Territorial calls?	© PB
ledflyc_pb_20200319.m4a	concinna (Top End, NT)	Pair Q&A	© PB
ledflyc_pb_20210508_2.m4a	concinna (Top End, NT)	Pair interacting	© PB
ledflyc_pb_20210508.m4a	concinna (Top End, NT)	2 males fighting + 1 male with female (+ White-throated Honeyeater)	© PB
ledflyc_pb_20200319_2.m4a	concinna (Top End, NT)	Various (female)	© PB
ledflyc_pb_20180715.m4a	concinna (Top End, NT)	?	© PB

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

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21

Leaden Flycatcher

Similarspecies

Physical description

Twitcher's tip

Taxonomy, classification

Range, habitat, finding this species

Sightings

Photos

Race "rubecula"

ADULT

MALE

FEMALE

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Race "yorki"

ADULT

MALE

FEMALE

PAIR

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Race "concinna"

ADULT

MALE

FEMALE

Race "okryi"

ADULT

MALE

FEMALE

Breeding information

Nest

Additional information

Eggs

Behaviour

Food, Diet

Call(s)/Song

Similar
species