All Flycatcher species are well known for their aerial pursuit of insect and spider prey. This was certainly my experience, and until a recent encounter with a Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta), I did not realise that they also forage on the ground.
The bird in question was actively working the mid story to the canopy of the bushland until it moved to lower shrubs beside the track I was on, and then dropped to the ground where it walked about examining a number of ant nests. It then picked up an object from beside a nest which it held for a few seconds before flying with the object up into a small shrubby tree beside the track. I lost sight of the bird shortly after, so I can’t say what it did with this object.
After processing the photos later, I could not determine if the object was food or not – see photos below. I am inclined to think it was not, however I am intrigued to think Restless Flycatchers may include in their diet food items collected and discarded by ants.
HANZAB, the encyclopaedic Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, now available online, provides information on Restless Flycatcher foraging, including this snippet:
Doubtfully, claimed they steal food from ants, hovering above ants carrying food back to their nests, then pounce to take food from them (Bright 1935).
While solid evidence is required, it seems possible to me that some birds, when food resources are scarce, may learn to steal insect food items from ants. Flycatchers certainly have the physical ability to do this easily.
HANZAB provides data for Restless Flycatcher foraging, which in general terms indicates they forage on the ground at least 25% of the time. The rest of the time foraging is on the wing, using both hovering and sallying.
NOTE: You can left click on any photo to open a slide show of the photos free of text or a right click enables one photo at a time to be opened in a New Tab where an enlarged version can be viewed.
This link to an earlier Avithera post shows photos and information for a number of the Myiagra flycatchers.
https://avithera.blogspot.com/2015/04/flycatchers.html
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and observations.
Regards
Gary
Hi John, Great photos!
ReplyDeleteThis is what ChatGPT says.
From the shape, texture, and how the bird is holding it, the object looks like a small insect or arthropod, most likely:
🐛 Most likely options
A small caterpillar or grub – the dark, slightly lumpy body fits
A beetle or beetle larva – could be curled or partially crushed
A fly or other soft-bodied insect – Restless Flycatchers commonly eat flying insects
Why this makes sense
Restless Flycatchers are insectivores, meaning they mainly eat insects.
They often catch prey mid-air or pick it off vegetation.
The object appears soft-bodied and irregular, not like a seed or twig.
Less likely possibilities
A spider (possible, but the shape looks less leggy)
A small piece of debris (unlikely given how deliberately it’s held)
Bottom line: it’s almost certainly an insect—probably a caterpillar or beetle-type prey the bird is about to eat.
After nearly 13 years AI has come to the auspicious 300th Avithera post. Thanks Hutch120 for the ChatGPT contribution to the ID of the item held by the Restless Flycatcher.
DeleteOn further study of the cropped photo I can see what looks like a mid line and three segments - top left side of object - which does suggest the abdomen of an insect, perhaps a fly. The rest of the object is somewhat consistent with body parts in relation to an abdomen. And of course the object has been picked up by an insectivorous bird adding weight to an insect conclusion. Therefore I am now inclined to think the object is most likely an insect.