OW Flycatchers, Chats, Nuthatches and Wrens

Old World Flycatchers and Chats (Muscicapidae) are part of Muscicapoidea placed in Passeriformes. Flycatchers (Muscicapidae) are small to medium-sized arboreal birds that hunt on flying insects from perches in trees or bushes. Chats (Muscicapidae) are small insectivorous ground-feeding birds formerly part of the thrushes (Turdidae) family. Nuthatches (Sittidae) and Wrens (Troglodytidae) placed in Certhioidea which a sister to Muscicapoidea, see Taxonomy note at the end of this page.

Old World Flycatchers, Chats, Nuthatches and Wrens

Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica) at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore

Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica) immature perched at Pasir Ris Park in Singapore

Ferruginous Flycatcher (Muscicapa ferruginea) at Bidadari Cemetery Woodland in Singapore

Yellow-rumped Flycatcher (Ficedula zanthopygia) perched mangrove swamp tree at Pasir Ris Park

Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis musicus) male at Singapore Botanic Garden

Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis musicus) female at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve in Singapore

Oriental Magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis musicus) immature perched at Central Catchment Reserve in Singapore

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus tricolor) on the ground at Paula Urbin

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula melophilus) perched at Moor Green Lakes in Berkshire

European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola hibernans) male perched on gorse bush at Yateley Common in Hampshire

European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola hibernans) female perched in a shrub at Yateley Common in Hampshire

European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola hibernans) immature perched on gorse bush at Yateley Common in Hampshire

Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea caesia) perched in a Yateley Garden

Eurasian Northern Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes indigenus) perched on the bank at Backwater River (Long River)

Old World Flycatchers and Chats Notes

Displayed species in the gallery are ‘Red List 2019’ assessed as ‘Least Concern’. I photographed the featured flycatchers in Singapore and the chats in England.

Nuthatches, Wrens, OW Flycatchers and Chats Taxonomy

The figure shows a simplified taxonomy family tree relevant to the Nuthatches, Wrens, OW Flycatchers and Chats photo album and a second Muscicapoidea photo album.

J Boyd’s Taxonomy in Flux Checklist states that Certhioidea is likely sister to Muscicapoidea or treated as an integral part of Muscicapoidea.

Following the preference for the independent superfamily Certhioidea comprises:
(a) Nuthatches (Sittidae),
(b) Wrens (Troglodytidae).

Muscicapoidea breaks into two clades. This photo album contains the first family in the first clade:
(a) Old World Flycatchers and Chats (Muscicapidae).