Exploring Pigeon Valley: Fiscal Flycatcher
This is the 118th in an ongoing series that highlights the riches of Pigeon Valley, the urban nature reserve in the heart of Glenwood.
The riches of Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve explained by Crispin Hemson, Glenwood resident and chair of the Friends of Pigeon Valley. This is the 118th in an ongoing series that highlights the riches of Pigeon Valley, the urban nature reserve in the heart of Glenwood. The focus of this article will be on the Fiscal Flycatcher.
Some animals put great effort into being tough and nasty or poisonous, so that they can deter predators. This gives the opportunists a great possibility. If you can trick others into thinking that you are the tough and nasty one, you can be quiet and placid and relaxed.
So birds and butterflies often engage in this process of mimicry.
Also read: Exploring Pigeon Valley: Messy places in nature
The other day I saw a leading exponent of this strategy, newly arrived in the area for its annual vacation. Even most humans catching a glance of this bird (if they give it a moment’s thought) will think they are seeing the Common Fiscal, the bird that sits on fences and posts, catches insects and impales them on thorns or barbed wire. The particular combination of dark back and head, white side-stripe and pale front can easily fool you.
Also read: Exploring Pigeon Valley: Narina Trogon
However, this is not the Common Fiscal – indeed I have not seen it in the area for years. It is the Fiscal Flycatcher, not closely related at all. It does not breed in Pigeon Valley, being purely a winter visitor, escaping the rigours of a highveld winter to take its holiday at the insect-rich coast. Like many of the flycatchers, it seems relaxed around human company (perhaps it knows it is doing us a favour).
As with many birds, the colours of the male are more strongly marked. The female has more muted tones, but with the same pattern.
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