Photo: Greg Miles from Australia / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Shining Flycatcher
Myiagra alecto
Shining Flycatcher (Myiagra alecto) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Shining Flycatcher (Myiagra alecto) is a member of the Monarchidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 23.6 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 Monarchidae Monarchs
- Genus Myiagra
- Species alecto
Where it lives
Northern, southern Moluccas to Bismarck Arch. and northern, eastern Australia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 23.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Monarchidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Shining Flycatcher is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Shining Flycatcher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Shining Flycatcher (Myiagra alecto) is a member of the Monarchidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU n, s Moluccas to Bismarck Arch. and n, e Australia.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 23.6 g, with a wing length of about 8.6 cm and a tail of around 7.2 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 1.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Shining Flycatcher?
The Shining Flycatcher is a small bird that weighs around 23.6 g.
Where does the Shining Flycatcher live?
The Shining Flycatcher is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU n, s Moluccas to Bismarck Arch. and n, e Australia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Shining Flycatcher belong to?
The Shining Flycatcher (Myiagra alecto) belongs to the Monarchidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Shining Flycatcher eat?
The Shining Flycatcher is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Shining Flycatcher migrate?
The Shining Flycatcher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Shining 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 Shining Flycatcher make?
1 real field recording of the Shining Flycatcher — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Shining Flycatcher's range?
The Shining Flycatcher has a mapped global range of about 1.4 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
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