Black-and-Orange Flycatcher

The Black-and-Orange Flycatcher or black-and-rufous flycatcher (Ficedula nigrorufa) is a species of flycatcher endemic to the central and southern Western Ghats, the Nilgiris and Palni hill range in southern India. It is unique among the Ficedula flycatchers in having rufous coloration on its back and prior to molecular studies was suggested to be related to the chats and thrushes.

A colorful bird that is primarily found in high-elevation regions of the Western Ghats, the Nilgiris, the Palnis, and related hill ranges. The male has striking black wings and a black head. The female has a light eye ring and dark brown hair instead of black. Typically, they appear alone or in pairs. The juvenile bird is brownish orange with a pale vent and abdomen when it is about two weeks old. The wings are blue with a hint of brown, and the head has dark streaks. The orange tail seems stumpy, and there is a pale ring around the eye. They almost resemble adults eight weeks after fledging, with the exception of some brown feather patches on the cap.