Myiagra Flycatcher in the Everard Ranges K
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224 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ORNITHOLOGIST, 27 MYIAGRA FLYCATCHER IN THE EVERARD RANGES K. S. SHURCLIFF Accepted January, 1977 On April 12, 1976, a female-type flycatcher female-type Leaden Flycatcher M. rubecula. of the Myiagra genus was observed in the Unfortunately, I have had no previous field Everard Ranges, north-western South Australia. experience with either of these flycatchers. On The bird was seen approximately 1 km north of the basis of examination of specimens in the Victory Well at the base of one of the large S.A. Museum, the bird is more likely to be a granitic domes which characterize the Everards. Satin Flycatcher. The Satin is larger, darker in It was also seen the following day at the same back colour, with the light wing and tail mark location, but was not seen subsequently. It was ings being more conspicuous than in the perched and hawking insects from the branches Leaden. The Satin museum specimens have a of several flowering Ironwood trees Acacia darker reddish breast colour which is sharply estrophiolata, 8-10 m tall. These trees were part demarcated from the upper abdomen, while the of an open woodland vegetation with an under Leaden specimens are much paler, being more story of tussock grasses and scattered shrubs. of a cinnamon colour. Contrary to the descrip The bird was identified as a flycatcher on the tions in both Slater (1974. Field guide to Aus basis of its general body and head shape and its tralian birds. Passerines.) and Officer (1969. characteristic tail-shivering. Ocher distinguish Australian flycatchers and their allies.), the ex ing features recorded in field notes were a rusty tent of colour is, if anything, greater in the brown throat and breast, this colour extending Satin than in the Leaden specimens, but the an estimated 1 em below the level of the colour can extend below shoulder level in both shoulder. The demarcation between the breast species. At least one specimen of the Satin has colour and upper abdomen was sharp. The un a partial white eye ring. derparts, abdomen, flanks, and undertail The known distribution of these two species coverts, were white. The upperparts, including is restricted to the forests and woodlands of the the head and tail, were dark grey, noted as be eastern and northern coasts of the continent ing "closer to black than brown", with lighter (Slater, 1974). However, there have been re edge markings on the secondaries, tertiaries and cent sightings of the Satin Flycatcher in the outside tail feathers. Eyes beak, and legs were southern part of the state (N. Reid et ali, forth dark. The lower half of the eye ring was white. coming) and the Leaden Flycatcher has been Bristles were prominent at the base of the bill. recorded in Adelaide (Paton, 1965. Emu, 64: The bird gave only a single caIl, consisting of 320). To date, no sightings of either species two whistling notes. have been recorded for the northern part of the On the basis of these field notes, It would State. seem that the individual was either a female type Satin Flycatcher Myiagra cyanoleuca or a Geography Dept., Unioersity of Adelaide..