Muscicapa gambagae (Alexander, 1901)

Dove, Carla J., Whatton, James F., Milensky, Christopher M., Boss, Will, Rayaleh, Houssein & Awaleh, Djama G., 2024, Notable records and observations of four passerines in Djibouti, 2020, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 144 (1), pp. 42-48 : 42

GAMBAGA FLYCATCHER Muscicapa gambagae

Described as an uncommon migrant ( Redman et al. 2016) or vagrant to Djibouti ( Taylor 2020), but regular sightings and photographs in various habitats throughout the country are available locally (HR pers. obs.). Only one previous specimen (a female) of this species is known from Djibouti, held at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle ( MNHN, Paris) collected on 30 April 1893 at Obock (http://vertnet.org; accessed April 2023). Our specimen ( USNM 664504) was mist-netted on 18 March 2020 at Dittilou and was prepared in fluid (molecular gender identification, male); iris brown, tarsi dark grey, body mass 12.0 g. We differentiated the species from Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata , which is common in Djibouti in winter, by its smaller size and less distinct streaking on the crown and underparts, shorter bill, pale mandible and overall browner coloration ( Taylor 2020). In Djibouti, Gambaga Flycatcher occurs throughout the country in rocky dry areas and wadis, and in the few remaining forested areas such as Forêt du Day and Mabla Mountains, as well as gardens in the town of Arta (HR pers. obs.). More than a dozen sightings and photographs are available from Djibouti on eBird (www.ebird.org; accessed 19 April 2023), in June and September at elevations above 1,100 m near Forêt du Day, and at sites near the Ethiopian border in April and October below 700 m. Additional sightings near and south of Djibouti City (Decan Refuge) and in coastal areas have been reported in September and October. Given the frequency and dates of these observations, the species is probably a common passage migrant or possibly a breeding migrant in Djibouti. Gambaga Flycatcher may have been overlooked in the past due to similarity with Spotted Flycatcher.