Fiscal Flycatcher

Sigelus silens

The Fiscal Flycatcher is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family. It is a resident breeder in Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique and Swaziland, and a vagrant to Namibia. It is the only member of the genus ''Sigelus''.

This species is found in subtropical open woodland, dry savanna, shrubland and suburban gardens.
Fiscal_Flycatcher-female  Fiscal Flycatcher,Sigelus silens,South Africa

Appearance

This black and white bird gets its name from its resemblance to the Northern Fiscal, a shrike.

The Fiscal Flycatcher is 17–20 cm in length. The adult male is black above and white below with white wing patches and white sides to the tail. The female is brown, not black, above. The juvenile is like the female but duller and with brown spots and scalloping above and below.

The song is a weak chittering, and the alarm call is ''tssisk''.

The male can be confused with the Common Fiscal, but the shrike has a heavy hooked bill, a white patch on the shoulder rather than the lower wing, and has no white its longer tail.

The Fiscal Flycatcher is larger than the male Collared Flycatcher, which has a white collar and lacks white wing panels.
Fiscal_Flycatcher1 Taken in South Africa Fiscal Flycatcher,Sigelus silens,South Africa

Behavior

The Fiscal Flycatcher builds an open cup nest from thin stems and other plant material and lined with plant down. It is placed in a dense bush.

The Fiscal Flycatcher feeds on insects, often taken in flight.

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Status: Least concern
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyMuscicapidae
GenusSigelus
SpeciesS. silens
Photographed in
South Africa