Photo: Becky Matsubara from El Sobrante, California / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
African Dusky Flycatcher
Muscicapa adusta
African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta) is a member of the Muscicapidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 10.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Muscicapidae Chats, Old World Flycatchers
- Genus Muscicapa
- Species adusta
Quick facts
- Weight
- 10.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The African Dusky Flycatcher is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The African Dusky Flycatcher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta) is a member of the Muscicapidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF wc, e, s.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 10.4 g, with a wing length of about 6.3 cm and a tail of around 5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the African Dusky Flycatcher?
The African Dusky Flycatcher is a very small bird that weighs around 10.4 g.
Where does the African Dusky Flycatcher live?
The African Dusky Flycatcher is found across Africa with a range covering AF wc, e, s, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the African Dusky Flycatcher belong to?
The African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta) belongs to the Muscicapidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the African Dusky Flycatcher eat?
The African Dusky Flycatcher is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the African Dusky Flycatcher migrate?
The African Dusky Flycatcher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the African Dusky Flycatcher endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the African Dusky Flycatcher make?
1 real field recording of the African Dusky Flycatcher can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the African Dusky Flycatcher's range?
The African Dusky Flycatcher has a mapped global range of about 2.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Muscicapidae
A field guide to the Muscicapidae family — 355 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.