Diet of the Asian Brown Flycatchers while on Migration

I saw another food item for the Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica) yesterday (21^st February 2022) and I am attempting to update my personal observations on the diet of these birds while on migration to my region.

Yesterday I saw an Asian Brown Flycatcher take a dragonfly (see image). This was unexpected for me as they usually take smaller insects. The dragonfly was branch swiped a few times before being swallowed whole. The dragonfly had bright orange and dark brown wing markings making an identification possible; this is the Rhyothemis phyllis, known as the Yellow-Striped Flutterer or Yellow-Barred Flutterer. It is described as a small to medium-sized dragonfly.

In the past I have observed the Asian Brown Flycatchers feed on:

1. Insect Prey: Small insects are often taken using an aerial sally. I have seen it take small larvae. The dragonfly is the largest prey I have personally seen it feed on.
2. Small fruit: Another common item in the diet. Fruit is also taken using an aerial sally. The birds will usually snatch a fruit, at times fluttering very briefly, and then return usually to a different perch to feed quickly.

Fruit I have seen taken include:

Blue Mahang (Macaranga heynei) – common food item.

Common Mahang (Macaranga bancana) – common food item.

Australian Mulberry (Pipturus argenteus).

Small orange berries from an unknown bush.

The Asian Brown Flycatcher is often very territorial in guarding its feeding locations and fruiting trees.

3. On one occasion I have seen a bird expel a pellet but was not able to retrieve it for analysis. It could be made up of the exoskeletons of insects or indigestible plant matter.

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS – Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia