Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike

Identification

The black-winged flycatcher-shrike is a small bird, about 15 cm (5.9 in) long, with striking sexual dimorphism. Males are distinctive, with a black head and upperparts displaying a subtle green sheen, a black tail, and a barred black-and-white rump. The face pattern is elegant: a white chin and upper throat contrasting with gull-grey lower throat and breast, while the belly remains white. Dark grey leg feathers, dark brown eyes, and black beak and feet complete the male's appearance. Females are noticeably duller, with sooty-brown upperparts replacing the male's glossy black. Juvenile birds show sooty-brown plumage with buff fringes and a brownish-black beak, making them readily distinguishable from adults in the field.

Range & Habitat

This species is endemic to Southeast Asia, ranging from the Malay Peninsula through Sumatra, Borneo, Java, and Bali. It inhabits lowland forests and forest edges below 800 m (2,600 ft) elevation, with populations most abundant below 300 m (980 ft), typically at lower altitudes than its congener, the bar-winged flycatcher-shrike. The black-winged flycatcher-shrike favors the canopy of lowland forests, forest roads, and streams, and occasionally ventures into swamps, mangroves, and secondary forest habitats.

Behaviour & Diet

This adroit insectivore gleans insects from the undersides of leaves and catches prey in flight, typically from exposed perches that offer good vantage points. Birds are usually encountered in pairs but may occur singly, in small parties, or within mixed-species foraging flocks. The species is vocal, producing a distinctive wirrawik call, a sharp chisi-wik, and a high-pitched song rendered as twee wi-wi-wi-wi. Breeding occurs from February to July, with pairs constructing cone-shaped nests attached to branches using cobweb. Males collect materials—bark, lichen, fibers, and cobweb—while females mold the nest by pressing against it, creating remarkably camouflaged structures. Eggs are white with dark brown spotting. Molt takes place from May through at least August, with primary feathers replaced sequentially from the innermost outward.

Best Time & Places to See It

Travelers seeking this species should focus on lowland forest habitats throughout its range in Malaysia, Brunei, and the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Borneo, Java, and Bali, keeping below 300 m elevation for the best chances of encounter. The breeding season, from February to July, is an excellent time to observe birds as they are more active and vocal. The species' preference for canopy and forest-edge habitats means patient scanning of the mid to upper levels of forest vegetation, particularly around fruiting and flowering trees that attract insect prey, will yield the best results.

Photography Tips

Photographing black-winged flycatcher-shrikes requires patience and attention to their foraging behavior. Position yourself where you can observe exposed perches, as birds regularly use these vantage points to spot and pursue aerial prey. The male's striking black and white plumage and the subtle green sheen of the head provide excellent photographic contrast, while the barred rump is a distinctive field mark worth capturing. Early morning light will enhance the glossy quality of male plumage. Since birds are often found in pairs and mixed-species flocks, multiple subjects may present opportunities for dynamic compositions.