| Restless Flycatcher | |
|---|---|
| Restless flycatcher in flight | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Monarchidae |
| Genus: | Myiagra |
| Species: | M. inquieta |
| Binomial name | |
| Myiagra inquieta (Latham, 1802) |
|
The Restless Flycatcher, Myiagra inquieta, is a passerine bird in the family Monarchidae.
Also known colloquially as Scissors Grinder or Dishwasher on account of its unusual call,[2] the Restless Flycatcher was first described by ornithologist John Latham in 1802. Its specific epithet is derived from the Latin inquietus 'restless'.[3] Populations from northern Australia and New Guinea, formerly considered a distinctive subspecies, are now separated as the Paperbark Flycatcher (Myiagra nana), with which it forms a superspecies.[4][5]
It is found in southern and eastern Australia. It is about 20 cm (8 in) long, with a glossy dark blue crown, a grey back and white underparts. It is similar to the Willie Wagtail, though the lack of a black throat and white eyebrow are distinguishing features. Its main food is insects.
This bird builds a cup-shaped nest from shredded bark and grasses, matted and bound with spider-webbing. Linings used are soft bark, grasses, hair or feathers. It is often decorated with lichen, strips of bark or spiders' egg sacs. The nest site is in the fork of a well-foliaged tree mostly near or overhanging water, though it can be up to twenty or more metres above the ground.[6]