Blue-and-white Flycatcher, NW Tasmania

[Michael Szabo]

A sighting of a Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Cyanoptila cyanomelana) that was photographed in NW Tasmania on 14 May 2024 was posted to Facebook today. Also known as Japanese Flycatcher, this is a migratory songbird species that breeds in Japan, Korea and part of north eastern China and the Russian Far East. It winters in South East Asia, especially in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Sumatra and Borneo.

So, this is quite a remarkable record for such a small songbird to be found so far south of its normal wintering range. Perhaps one will be found in New Zealand one day?

Here is the report which was posted to Facebook today by Ramit Singal:

"Last week, I was notified of what I think is a Blue-and-White Flycatcher that crashed into a window in the town of Latrobe in NW Tasmania on 14 May 2024. The bird was taken to the neighbour, who is a birdwatcher (and took these images), where it was allowed to rest and then released. I actually met the homeowners today and was able to verify that there were definitely no issues with the location of the record."