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21

Satin Flycatcher

(Myiagra cyanoleuca)
Alternate name(s): "Shining Flycatcher*"; misnomer: "Satin Sparrow"
Size: 15-17 cm
Weight: 12-20 g

Similar
species

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

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Satin Flycatcher at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "cyanoleuca"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Satin Flycatcher
[Guy Fawkes NP, NSW, November 2006]

Frontal view of a male Satin Flycatcher (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2015]

Near-lateral view of a male Satin Flycatcher (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Namadgee NP, ACT, November 2013]

FEMALE

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

Near-lateral view of a female Satin Flycatcher (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Namadgee NP, ACT, November 2013]

Distant lateral view of a female Satin Flycatcher
[Guy Fawkes NP, NSW, November 2006]

Dorsal view of a female Satin Flycatcher (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Old Coach Road, Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2014]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Satin Flycatcher (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Old Coach Road, Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2018]

Lateral view of a juvenile Satin Flycatcher (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Old Coach Road, Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2018]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Oct - Jan Eggs: 3 Incubation period: 15 - 17(?) days Fledging age: ca. 18? days

Nest building: Female & male(?) Incubation: Female & male Dependent care: Female & male

Satin Flycatchers may nest in loose associations, with several pairs nesting only about 50 m from each other. The nest is often located on an usually dead small branch, under a living larger branch.

Nest

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

Type: Basket Material: Bark strips, root fibres, webs Height above ground: 5 - 25 m

Satin Flycatcher nest; note how webs have been used to securely tie it to a rough-barked branch
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, in November 2015]

Male Satin Flycatcher on its nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2015]

Female Satin Flycatcher on its nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2015]

This male Satin Flycatcher has cobwebs on its head... (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum, QLD, December 2017]

... because it is working on binding the base of its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum, QLD, December 2017]

Eggs

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

Size: 20 x 15 mm Colour: Creamy, with light-brown speckles Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

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

Food, Diet

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

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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