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21

Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta) Alternate name(s): "Scissors Grinder", "Scissors Sharpener", "Dishwasher", "Crested Wagtail", "Dishlick", "Grinder" Aboriginal name(s): "juwim-juwim" [bundjalung]; "djidengot", "wiring", "djowidjowi" (WA) Size: 16-21 cm Weight: 18-25 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 Restless Flycatchers are large flycatchers. Together with the closely related Paperbark Flycatcher, they are the only two species of flycatcher in Australia in which the two sexes are almost indistinguishable. Male Restless Flycatchers have black lores, while females have grey lores. Both sexes 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 Restless Flycatchers and Paperbark Flycatchers have basically identical plumages; Restless Flycatchers are the larger of the two species.

Taxonomy, classification See Restless Flycatcher at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information Restless Flycatchers (Myiagra inquieta) and Paperbark Flycatchers (Myiagra nana) 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 Restless Flycatcher is available HERE . Restless Flycatchers are endemic to Australia. They are found across large parts of the continent, 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. 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 farmland with scattered trees. They have even been observed entering buildings or patios to hunt for insects under roofs and awnings. Where to look? How to find this species? Restless Flycatchers are not afraid of the presence of humans at all. They can be found in many gardens, where they usually can be seen hunting insects from low perches or hovering in flight. They are known to sometimes also hawk for insects around people's heads.

Sightings Click here for sighting information In 2003-2006 Restless Flycatchers occasionally came to our garden 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 the only sedentary species of flycatcher in inland NSW and can be seen there throughout the year. Since the winter of 2007 we spot Restless Flycatchers regularly at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri. A fledgling Restless Flycatcher was seen by us near Walgett, NSW, in October 2010. R. Plumtree reports spotting Restless Flycatchers regularly in the area of Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC. J. Greaves reports spotting a Restless Flycatcher at Dryandra Woodlands, WA, in August 2015. Restless Flycatchers are occasionally reported to us by contributors from various locations along the Great Dividing Range and the eastern coastal fringe of both NSW and VIC. M. Eaton reports finding Restless Flycatchers nesting at Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, in September 2017.

Photos

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Restless Flycatcher trying to impress a competitor (in a mirror); note the jet-black lores
[Near Narrabri, NSW, July 2020]

Frontal view of a male Restless Flycatcher trying to impress a competitor (in a mirror) with its calls
[Near Narrabri, NSW, July 2020]

Near-frontal view of a male Restless Flycatcher
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2011]

Near-frontal view of a male Restless Flycatcher (photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, February 2017]

Near-frontal view of a male(?) Restless Flycatcher
[Burren Junction, NSW, September 2017]

Near-frontal view of a male Restless Flycatcher with is crest erected
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2022]

Close-up near-lateral view of a male Restless Flycatcher
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Restless Flycatcher - this is what it looks like as it produces its incredible "scissor grinder" call, which it can also intonate while in hovering flight
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, 2006]

Lateral view of a male(?) Restless Flycatcher; note the worn, brownish primaries
[Burren Junction, NSW, September 2017]

Lateral view of a male Restless Flycatcher
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2012]

Lateral view of a preening male Restless Flycatcher (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay Doctors Flat Road, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2019]

Lateral view of a Restless Flycatcher with almost entirely white frontal plumage and a glossy blue-black back
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2007]

Near-dorsal view of a male(?) Restless Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, April 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a male(?) Restless Flycatcher (photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, February 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a male Restless Flycatcher (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay Doctors Flat Road, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2019]

Dorsal view of a male(?) Restless Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, April 2018]

Dorsal view of a Restless Flycatcher (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Cressbrook, near Toowoomba, QLD, July 2017]

Dorsal view of a male(?) Restless Flycatcher
[Burren Junction, NSW, September 2017]

Here we have a Restless Flycatcher with a fashionable new hairdo - crown feathers being swept forward by a tailwind
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2011]

Lateral view of a hovering Restless Flycatcher
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2014]

Lateral view of a hovering male(?) Restless Flycatcher; note the jet-black lores
[Burren Junction, NSW, September 2017]

Dorsal view of a hovering Restless Flycatcher
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2017]

FEMALE

Frontal portrait of a female(?) Restless Flycatcher; note the grey lores, as opposed to the males' black lores (above)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, Mayy 2014]

This slightly different angle shows the rictal bristles, i.e. the hairlike feathers around the bill, of a Restless Flycatcher
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2014]

Close-up lateral view of a female Restless Flycatcher
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a female Restless Flycatcher
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2022]

Lateral/ventral view of a female Restless Flycatcher with some fresh plumage; here the grey lores are clearly discernible
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Emerald, QLD, August 2019]

Lateral view of a female(?) Restless Flycatcher taking off from its perch (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2014]

PAIR

Lateral view of a pair of Restless Flycatchers
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2022]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-frontal portrait of a juvenile Restless Flycatcher
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2013]

Frontal/ventral view of a juvenile Restless Flycatcher
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2013]

Ventral view of a juvenile Restless Flycatcher; another (bad) photo shows that the bird's gape is still yellow; note also the short tail
[Near Walgett, NSW, October 2010]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Mar

Eggs: 2 - 4

Incubation period: 14 - 15 days

Fledging age: 13 - 16 days

The breeding season depends on geographical latitude and on weather conditions. Given the right conditions, Restless Flycatchers can breed almost all year round, from about August to May.

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

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

Type: Basket

Material: Grass stems, rootlets, bark strips, lichen, webs

Height above ground: 2 - ? m

Restless Flycatcher on its nest in an Acacia salicina
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2022]

Here the Restless Flycatcher's partner brings cobwebs for binding the nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2022]

"Change of the guard" at a Restless Flycatcher nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2022]

Restless Flycatcher nest on an horizontal fork in a Cypress pine tree, about 1.5 m out from the trunk
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]

The same Restless Flycatcher nest as shown above, now seen from a different angle
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]

This photo, taken from the opposite side of the tree trunk, shows that there are two Restless Flycatcher chicks in the nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]

A few days later, when no chicks were visible and the nest looked abandoned, we went to take a shot from above, only to find that the brood had failed during a long rainy spell; the Cypress pine tree had also been teeming with ants when the nest was first found; they certainly did their job once the chicks were dead...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]

Restless Flycatcher nest in a fork of a Bottlebrush tree
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]

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: Greyish-white, with mid-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Restless Flycatchers are audacious birds that will enter patios and other partly enclosed structures in search of insects. They will approach humans to very short distances, sometimes arm's length.

Male Restless Flycatcher fighting the enemy... calls
[Near Narrabri, NSW, July 2020]

Male Restless Flycatcher fighting the enemy... calls
[Near Narrabri, NSW, July 2020]

Male Restless Flycatcher fighting the enemy... calls
[Near Narrabri, NSW, July 2020]

Male Restless Flycatcher fighting the enemy... calls
[Near Narrabri, NSW, July 2020]

Food, Diet

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

Restless Flycatcher with its prey, a spider
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2019]

Restless Flycatcher looking for spiders on a bull bar
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2022]

This Restless Flycatcher has taken an ant
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2006]

Restless Flycatcher taking a larger insect
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, 2006]

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

Restless Flycatcher taking water, and a bath, from a puddle (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, April 2018]

Additional information

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

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.

rstless_20160202.m4a	inquieta (NW NSW)	Contact calls(?)	© MD
rstless_20140715.mp3	inquieta (NW NSW)	Contact call(?)	© MD
rstless_20140304.mp3	inquieta (NW NSW)	Contact calls(?)	© MD
rstless_20160202_5.m4a	inquieta (NW NSW)	Contact calls(?) Q&A	© MD
rstless_20140715_4.mp3	inquieta (NW NSW)	Pair Q&A	© MD
rstless_20160202_4.m4a	inquieta (NW NSW)	Territorial calls(?) "chewy-chewy"	© MD
rstless_20151202_2.mp3	inquieta (W NSW)	Territorial calls(?)	© MD
rstless_20151202_3.mp3	inquieta (W NSW)	Territorial calls(?); long sequence	© MD
rstless_20170730.m4a	inquieta (W NSW)	2 males competing for territory	© MD
rstless_20170730_2.m4a	inquieta (W NSW)	2 males competing for territory	© MD
rstless_20180908.m4a	inquieta (NW NSW)	"Scissor grinder" calls	© MD
rstless_20140112.mp3	inquieta (NW NSW)	Warning call(?)	© MD
rstless_20160104_2.mp3	inquieta (NW NSW)	Upset (near nest)	© MD
rstless_20160202_2.m4a	inquieta (NW NSW)	? (babbling)	© MD
rstless_20160202_3.m4a	inquieta (NW NSW)	? (babbling)	© MD
rstless_20170724.m4a	inquieta (NW NSW)	Various	© MD

Click here for more recordings

More Restless 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.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Mon, 31 October 2022, 3:05 +00:00