Brown-breasted Flycatcher
Jurong Lake Gardens

10 Oct 2023

Record added by admins: This record was not submitted by observers. It was made available here as part of the Bird Society of Singapore's effort to make all bird records more easily accessible. Images here are displayed with permission from the photographer.

11 Oct 2023

Record added

This record was added to the database by a site administrator.
12 Oct 2023

Review started

The Records Committee began deliberating on this record.
02 Nov 2023

Record finalised

The Records Committee completed its review and finalised its verdict.

General details

Species	Brown-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa muttui
Record ID	10619
Date	10 Oct 2023
Location	Jurong Lake Gardens
Count	1 individual
Date added	11 Oct 2023

To submit a record of this species, click here.

This record has not been accepted by the Records Committee. For more details, see below.

Committee's view

Background
The RC agreed unanimously that the photos suggested an Asian Brown Flycatcher rather than Brown-breasted. Key features noted are listed below. Bill size. The bird's bill is small, short, and weak, lacking the defined hook of Brown-breasted. Bill color. The photos show a clearly demarcated black tip on the lower mandible which is consistent with Asian Brown and not with Brown-breasted. In Brown-breasted, any dark area on the bill is restricted to an ill-defined smudge near the bill tip. Leg color. The legs of the bird appear dark, where a Brown-breasted Flycatcher should have light-colored legs. While backlighting may affect the apparent leg color, the feet are clearly dark. Wing coverts. The wings coverts appear to be fringed rufous, which is a pro-Brown-breasted feature. However, it appears there is something (possibly plant material) blocking the right half of the bird, causing the rufous tones to appear on the image. Moustachial stripes. Brown-breasted Flycatchers typically have strongly contrasting buffish-black moustachial stripes, not visible in the image. Breast and flanks. The brownish coloration on the breast does not extend to the flanks. It is quite common for Asian Brown to have a brownish breast like this bird does. Face pattern. The bird appears to have a strongly marked face with well-defined eyering behind the eye, which is correct for Brown-breasted. However, this feature is exhibited by many Asian Brown too. Note: As of 2 Nov 2023, when the RC finalized its verdict, the species had been removed from the original eBird checklist. However, it is still up on the observer's personal page, the Singapore Birders group, and the Global Rare Bird Alert page on Facebook (links are available in the Links section).

Background

The RC agreed unanimously that the photos suggested an Asian Brown Flycatcher rather than Brown-breasted. Key features noted are listed below.

Bill size. The bird's bill is small, short, and weak, lacking the defined hook of Brown-breasted.
Bill color. The photos show a clearly demarcated black tip on the lower mandible which is consistent with Asian Brown and not with Brown-breasted. In Brown-breasted, any dark area on the bill is restricted to an ill-defined smudge near the bill tip.
Leg color. The legs of the bird appear dark, where a Brown-breasted Flycatcher should have light-colored legs. While backlighting may affect the apparent leg color, the feet are clearly dark.
Wing coverts. The wings coverts appear to be fringed rufous, which is a pro-Brown-breasted feature. However, it appears there is something (possibly plant material) blocking the right half of the bird, causing the rufous tones to appear on the image.
Moustachial stripes. Brown-breasted Flycatchers typically have strongly contrasting buffish-black moustachial stripes, not visible in the image.
Breast and flanks. The brownish coloration on the breast does not extend to the flanks. It is quite common for Asian Brown to have a brownish breast like this bird does.
Face pattern. The bird appears to have a strongly marked face with well-defined eyering behind the eye, which is correct for Brown-breasted. However, this feature is exhibited by many Asian Brown too.

Note: As of 2 Nov 2023, when the RC finalized its verdict, the species had been removed from the original eBird checklist. However, it is still up on the observer's personal page, the Singapore Birders group, and the Global Rare Bird Alert page on Facebook (links are available in the Links section).

Vote results	Against: 6
Verdict	Not accepted (Verifiable)

References (see all)

References	Facebook; Facebook; Facebook

Revisions to this record

Date revised	Changes made
02 Nov 2023	Added link to Global Rare Bird Alert post, and removed link to eBird checklist (species was removed).

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (2023). Record 10619: Brown-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa muttui. Retrieved August 20, 2025, from https://records.singaporebirds.com/record/10619/.

Media

Credit for photo(s): Lim Kim Seng

Brown-breasted Flycatcher Jurong Lake Gardens 10 Oct 2023

Record added

Review started

Record finalised