Satin Flycatcher

About the Satin Flycatcher

The satin flycatcher (Myiagra cyanoleuca) is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae. Males stand out with their blue-black feathers contrasting their white bellies, and the females with their bright orange throats. It breeds mostly in south-eastern Tasmania and Australia. It is declining throughout the eastern seaboard due to predation from the introduced Red Fox and habitat loss. It is a vagrant to New Zealand.

The satin flycatcher was originally described in the genus Platyrhynchos. Alternate names include satin Myiagra and satin Myiagra-flycatcher. The name Myiagra is derived from the Ancient Greek 'muia', meaning 'fly' (insect), and 'agreo', meaning 'seize' (thus, 'flycatcher'). Cyanoleuca is derived from 'cyanos' (blue) and 'leucos' (white).

The satin flycatcher is a member of the Monarchidae family, or the Monarchs, which contains around 100 small, passerine, insectivorous birds. The family stretches across much of the planet, with species living in Africa, Asia and the pacific amongst other areas.

The genus Myiagra is distinct from other members of the Monarchidae family by their obvious sexual dimorphism, egg patterns, and unpatterned crests... Wikipedia →