Black-banded Flycatcher
Encyclopedia
The Black-banded Flycatcher (Ficedula timorensis), also known as the Timor Flycatcher, is a species of bird
in the Muscicapidae family. In the past the species was considered to be related to the Australasian robins but this was as the result of convergent evolution
. The species is endemic to the island of Timor
in the Lesser Sundas. The Black-banded Flycatcher is small with a broad bill and distinctive plumage
. The species has a white belly, lower rump and throat with a thin black band across the chest. The tail, neck and wings are black and the back, upper wing and shoulders rich chestnut. The plumage of the head is sexually dichromatic
, with the head being black in the males and dark grey in the females. The eye and bill is black and the feet and legs are yellow. The calls
consist of soft whistles, some of which sound similar to the Timor Stubtail
.
The Black-banded Flycatcher is an uncommon species that is difficult to see and very little is known about its biology. The natural habitat of the species is lowland monsoon forests and hill forests up to 1200 m. Nothing is known about its breeding behaviour, the only observations of this are adults feeding recently fledge
d chicks in December. It feeds singly or in pairs on invertebrates, taking its prey mostly by gleaning with a few sallying flights to snatch ariel prey. The species is currently listed as near threatened. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the Muscicapidae family. In the past the species was considered to be related to the Australasian robins but this was as the result of convergent evolution
Convergent evolution
Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages.The wing is a classic example of convergent evolution in action. Although their last common ancestor did not have wings, both birds and bats do, and are capable of powered flight. The wings are...
. The species is endemic to the island of Timor
Timor
Timor is an island at the southern end of Maritime Southeast Asia, north of the Timor Sea. It is divided between the independent state of East Timor, and West Timor, belonging to the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara. The island's surface is 30,777 square kilometres...
in the Lesser Sundas. The Black-banded Flycatcher is small with a broad bill and distinctive plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
. The species has a white belly, lower rump and throat with a thin black band across the chest. The tail, neck and wings are black and the back, upper wing and shoulders rich chestnut. The plumage of the head is sexually dichromatic
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
, with the head being black in the males and dark grey in the females. The eye and bill is black and the feet and legs are yellow. The calls
Bird song
Bird vocalization includes both bird calls and bird songs. In non-technical use, bird songs are the bird sounds that are melodious to the human ear. In ornithology and birding, songs are distinguished by function from calls.-Definition:The distinction between songs and calls is based upon...
consist of soft whistles, some of which sound similar to the Timor Stubtail
Timor Stubtail
The Timor Stubtail is a species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family.It is found in Indonesia and East Timor.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007....
.
The Black-banded Flycatcher is an uncommon species that is difficult to see and very little is known about its biology. The natural habitat of the species is lowland monsoon forests and hill forests up to 1200 m. Nothing is known about its breeding behaviour, the only observations of this are adults feeding recently fledge
Fledge
Fledge is the stage in a young bird's life when the feathers and wing muscles are sufficiently developed for flight. It also describes the act of a chick's parents raising it to a fully grown state...
d chicks in December. It feeds singly or in pairs on invertebrates, taking its prey mostly by gleaning with a few sallying flights to snatch ariel prey. The species is currently listed as near threatened. It is threatened by habitat loss.