Rusty-tailed flycatcher

The rusty-tailed flycatcher (Ficedula ruficauda) is a small passerine bird in the flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is found mainly in the northern regions of the Indian Subcontinent and some parts of southwest India, as well as pockets of Central Asia including Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The species is partially migratory, with the Central Asian populations migrating to India, as far as the southwest Indian coast along the Arabian Sea, to Karnataka and Kerala.

Rusty-tailed flycatcher
in Kullu - Manali District of Himachal Pradesh, India.
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Muscicapidae
Genus:	Ficedula
Species:	F. ruficauda
Binomial name
Ficedula ruficauda (Swainson, 1838)

Other populations, especially those across the lower Himalayas, remain in their native regions year-round and breed there. The species is also an occasional vagrant to other areas in India.

The rusty-tailed flycatcher is 14 cm (5.5 in) in length and weighs 11–16 g (0.39–0.56 oz). The sexes have similar plumage.^[2]

In a molecular phylogenetic study of species in Muscicapa and related genera (tribe Muscicapini) published in 2016, Gary Voelker and colleagues found that the rusty-tailed flycatcher was basal to the other Muscicapini species and proposed that it be placed in its own monotypic genus Ripleyia.^[3] This name was found to be preoccupied and was replaced by Ripleyornis.^[4] A subsequent phylogenetic analysis that included species from both Ficedula and Muscicapa found that the rusty-tailed flycatcher formed part of a clade containing members of Ficedula.^[5]

References

1. BirdLife International (2019). "Ficedula ruficauda". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T22709217A155547369. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22709217A155547369.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
2. Clement, P. "Rusty-tailed Flycatcher (Muscicapa ruficauda)". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D.A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions. Retrieved 14 June 2016.(subscription required)
3. Voelker, G.; Huntley, J.W.; Peñalba, J.V.; Bowie, R.C.K. (2016). "Resolving taxonomic uncertainty and historical biogeographic patterns in Muscicapa flycatchers and their allies". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 94 (Pt B): 618–625. Bibcode:2016MolPE..94..618V. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2015.09.026. PMID 26475615.
4. Voelker, G.; Bowie, R.C.K.; Conway, K.W. (2016). "Replacement names for Chapinia and Ripleyia (Aves: Passeriformes: Muscicapidae)". Zootaxa. 4107 (4): 599. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4107.4.9. PMID 27394844.
5. Hooper, D.M.; Olsson, U.; Alström, Per (2016). "The Rusty-tailed Flycatcher (Muscicapa ruficauda; Aves: Muscicapidae) is a member of the genus Ficedula". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 102: 56–61. Bibcode:2016MolPE.102...56H. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2016.05.036. PMID 27246102.