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Paperbark Flycatcher (Myiagra nana) Alternate name(s): "Little Restless Flycatcher" Size: 17-19 cm; wing span 27 cm Body mass: 12-18 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 Paperbark Flycatchers are small flycatchers. Together with the closely related Restless Flycatcher, they are the only two species of flycatcher in Australia in which the two sexes are almost indistinguishable. They have a glossy blue-black head, down to the level of the bill, and back, down to the rump. The entire front, from lores to undertail coverts, including sides and flanks, is all-white. The uppertail and the wings are dark-grey, with a brown tinge on the flight feathers. After moulting into new plumage, they can have a pale-buff wash, mostly on the chest. As the feathers age, they become white again. Both sexes have a small erectile crest and the "whiskers" typical of flycatchers in general. The eyes have dark irises. The bill is black, the legs and feet are dark-grey. Juveniles have a pale creamy-buff wash on the throat and upper chest. Their head and back are dark-grey; the flight feathers have buff leading edges. Twitcher's tip Paperbark Flycatchers and Restless Flycatchers have basically identical plumages; Paperbark Flycatchers are the smaller of the two species.

Taxonomy, classification See Paperbark Flycatcher at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information Paperbark Flycatchers (Myiagra nana) and Restless Flycatchers (Myiagra inquieta) are no longer considered to be conspecific.

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 Paperbark Flycatcher is available HERE . Paperbark Flycatchers occur in northern Australia and southern New Guinea. In Australia Paperbark Flycatchers are found in the Kimberley, WA, the entire Top End of the NT and along the South coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, QLD, and along the West coast of Cape York peninsula, up to about the Kendall River. Paperbark Flycatchers have a preference for tropical woodland and riverine habitats.

Sightings Click here for sighting information B. Hensen reports spotting a Paperbark Flycatcher on the Marrakai track, NT, in August 2013. We first spotted Paperbark Flycatchers at various locations in and around Darwin, NT, e.g. at Fogg Dam NR, in August 2014. Several contributors report spotting Paperbark Flycatchers in various locations in and around Darwin, NT, and the rest of the Top End of the NT. M. Mearns reports finding Paperbark Flychatchers at Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) NP, QLD, in September 2019. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours spotted the species at the same location, first in July 2020. In December 2020, a pair was found nesting there. M. Eaton found Paperbark Flycatchers at Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa, QLD, in June 2025. This location is near the eastern edge of the species' range. Others were found near the Victoria River Roadhouse, NT, in June 2026.

Photos

ADULT

PAIR

Frontal view of a pair of Paperbark Flycatchers at their nest
[Fogg Dam NR, NT, August 2014]

Paperbark Flycatcher working on its nest, while its partner makes sure that everything is built to specification
[Fogg Dam NR, NT, August 2014]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Paperbark Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa, QLD, June 2025]

Frontal view of a Paperbark Flycatcher looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa, QLD, June 2025]

Frontal view of a Paperbark Flycatcher looking sideways (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, September 2018]

Frontal view of a Paperbark Flycatcher looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Adels Grove, near Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) NP, QLD, July 2020]

Near-frontal view of a Paperbark Flycatcher looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa, QLD, June 2025]

Near-lateral view of a Paperbark Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
Kakadu NP, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of a Paperbark Flycatcher looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa, QLD, June 2025]

Close-up lateral view of a male Broad-billed Flycatcher in fresh plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, May 2023]

Lateral view of a Paperbark Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa, QLD, June 2025]

Lateral view of a Paperbark Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Victoria River Roadhouse, NT, June 2026]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a male Broad-billed Flycatcher (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, May 2023]

Lateral/ventral view of a Paperbark Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa, QLD, June 2025]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a male Broad-billed Flycatcher looking back at the observer (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, May 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a Paperbark Flycatcher looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Adels Grove, near Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) NP, QLD, December 2020]

Close-up near-dorsal/ventral view of a Paperbark Flycatcher
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a preening Paperbark Flycatcher
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Dorsal view of a Paperbark Flycatcher looking backwards (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, January 2018]

Two Paperbark Flycatchers interacting in flight (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
Kakadu NP, NT, July 2020]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Apr

Eggs: 3 - 4

Incubation period: 14 - 15 days

Fledging age: 13 - 16 days

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

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

Type: Basket

Material: Grass stems, bark strips, webs

Height above ground: ?

Frontal view of a Paperbark Flycatcher at its nest (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Adels Grove, near Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) NP, QLD, December 2020]

Frontal view of a Paperbark Flycatcher adding a decoration to its nest (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Adels Grove, near Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) NP, QLD, December 2020]

Eggs

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

Size: 20 x 16 mm

Colour: Whitish, with mid-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a Paperbark Flycatcher hunting insects between rocks
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

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.

papflyc_me_20250603_2.m4a	(W QLD)	Contact call	© ME
papflyc_20140816_2.m4a	(Darwin, NT)	Contact calls	© MD
papflyc_20140816.m4a	(Darwin, NT)	Territorial calls	© MD
papflyc_20140816_4.mp3	(Darwin, NT)	Territorial calls	© MD
papflyc_pb_20180503.m4a	(Darwin, NT)	Territorial calls?; "chewy"	© PB
papflyc_me_20250603.m4a	(W QLD)	"Scissor grinder" calls	© ME
papflyc_20140817_3.m4a	(Top End, NT)	Excited/hunting	© MD
papflyc_me_20250603_4.m4a	(W QLD)	Various	© ME
papflyc_me_20250603_3.m4a	(W QLD)	Various	© ME
papflyc_20140817_2.m4a	(Top End, NT)	Various	© MD
papflyc_pb_20181110.m4a	(Darwin, NT)	?	© PB

More Paperbark 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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.