How to identify the Ultramarine Flycatcher

To correctly identify the Ultramarine Flycatcher (Ficedula superciliaris), check each of these features. Birds can be tricky: habit, habitat, and call often confirm a sighting that a single photo cannot.

Size at a glance

Length

10-13 cm

Wingspan

16-19 cm

Weight

6-10 g

Physical features to check

1. 1

   Plumage

   Overall feather coloration and pattern.

   Adult male: Brilliant ultramarine blue upperparts, including crown, nape, back, and wings. A prominent white supercilium (eyebrow) extends from the lores to behind the eye. The throat and breast are white, often with a faint bluish wash on the sides of the breast. The flanks are greyish, and the belly is white. The tail is dark with blue edges. Adult female: Dull olive-brown upperparts, often with a faint bluish tinge on the rump and tail. The underparts are dull whitish to pale buff, sometimes with a faint yellowish wash on the flanks. A pale buffy or whitish supercilium is present but less distinct than in the male. Juvenile: Similar to the female but often with a scaly or mottled appearance on the upperparts and breast, and a more rufous tinge.

2. 2

   Beak shape

   Shape and color of the bill: a key field mark.

   Small, slender, pointed black beak, typical of an insectivorous flycatcher, adapted for catching insects in flight or from foliage.

3. 3

   Eye color

   Iris color and any distinctive eye markings.

   Dark brown

4. 4

   Leg color

   Leg and foot color.

   Dark grey to blackish

5. 5

   Distinguishing features

   Standout features that separate this species.

   Male's striking ultramarine blue upperparts with a prominent white supercilium and white underparts. Female's dull olive-brown upperparts with a pale supercilium. Its small size and active foraging behavior are also key.

6. 6

   Juvenile appearance

   How young birds differ from adults.

   Juveniles resemble females but are often more mottled or scaly on the upperparts and breast, with a slightly rufous wash.

7. 7

   Seasonal changes

   Plumage variation between breeding and non-breeding seasons.

   No significant seasonal plumage changes in adults; breeding and non-breeding plumages are similar. Juveniles molt into adult-like plumage within their first year.

8. 8

   Sexual dimorphism

   How males and females differ.

   Highly sexually dimorphic. Males are bright ultramarine blue and white, while females are dull olive-brown and whitish.

Key field marks

• Male Plumage. Look for the striking ultramarine blue upperparts, contrasting sharply with a bright white supercilium and pure white throat/breast. The flanks are greyish.
• Female Plumage. Identify by dull olive-brown upperparts, a less distinct pale supercilium, and dull whitish to pale buff underparts. A faint bluish wash on the rump/tail can be a clue.
• Size and Shape. It's a small, compact flycatcher with a relatively short tail and a typical upright posture when perched.
• Behavior. Observe its active foraging style, darting out from perches to catch insects, often in the lower to mid-canopy or undergrowth.
• Vocalization. Listen for the male's sweet, high-pitched, whistled song, especially during the breeding season. The sharp 'tseet' call is also distinctive.

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