African Grey Flycatcher vs Common Nightingale
Bradornis microrhynchus compared with Luscinia megarhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Grey Flycatcher | Common Nightingale |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bradornis microrhynchus | Luscinia megarhynchos |
| Order | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Muscicapidae | Muscicapidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 16.5 cm (6.5 in) |
| Wingspan | 16.3 cm (6.4 in) | 25.0 cm (9.8 in) |
| Weight | 18.166666666666668 g (0.64 oz) | 21.0 g (0.74 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Insects and larvae, supplemented with berries in autumn. Forages on or near the ground in … |
| Clutch Size | 1-4 | 4-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
African Grey Flycatcher only
Common Nightingale only
Common Nightingale
Dense thickets, scrub, and undergrowth in deciduous woodland. Prefers areas with thick ground cover near water.
Song & Call Comparison
African Grey Flycatcher
Common Nightingale
Considered Europe's finest songster: an extraordinarily rich, loud, flute-like melody of bubbling trills, slow whistles, and a distinctive crescendo 'lu-lu-lu'. Sings day and night.
Geographic Range & Migration
African Grey Flycatcher
Common Nightingale
Breeds in Europe and western Asia. Winters in sub-Saharan Africa. A long-distance migrant crossing the Sahara.
Conservation Status
African Grey Flycatcher
Common Nightingale
How to Tell Them Apart
African Grey Flycatcher
Common Nightingale
Plain warm brown upperparts with a rufous-chestnut tail. Pale greyish-white underparts. Unremarkable appearance belies its remarkable voice.
Thin, pointed, dark brown bill
About These Birds
African Grey Flycatcher
The African Grey Flycatcher weighs about 18g and inhabits dry savanna and woodland of East Africa. It perches on exposed branches and sallies to catch insects close to the ground.
Common Nightingale
The common nightingale is celebrated as one of the finest songsters in the bird world, inspiring poets from Homer to Keats. Males sing complex phrases of over 250 different types, often at night during breeding season. Despite its famous song, the nightingale is a plain-looking bird that skulks in dense vegetation.