Green-backed Flycatcher – first winter female

I spent some time with this first winter female Green-backed Flycatcher (Ficedula elisae) that was feeding on insect prey by aerial sallies; it seldom returned to the same perch.

1. The presence of mottling below (diffusely-patterned scalloping on the breast) and whitish tips to greater coverts suggests it is a first winter bird (Moores 2005).
2. The absence of yellow in the lores or a yellow supercilium suggests a female.
3. The faint rufous wash to the uppertail (outside of the tail red brown) also supports a female (Moores 2005).
4. Absence of a yellow rump suggests a female (note that males only develop a yellow rump at the complete moult of their second autumn – Wells, personal communication (2018).

Calls were heard and recorded (different from those the male makes).

Amar-Singh HSS (Dato’ Dr)

Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Location: Perak, Malaysia

Habitat: Secondary growth adjacent to primary forest

Date: 14th December 2020

Equipment: Nikon D500 SLR with Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR, handheld with Rode VideoMic Pro Plus Shotgun Microphone