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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Monarchidae
  4. ›
  5. Myiagra
  6. ›
  7. Restless Flycatcher
Restless Flycatcher
Photo · (c) nevwright, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Restless Flycatcher

Myiagra inquieta(Latham, 1801)

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Monarchidae
Genus
Myiagra

At a glance

The Restless Flycatcher is a small bird, about 17–22 cm long, endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
17–22 cm
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Restless Flycatcher look like?

The Restless Flycatcher is a small bird, about 17–22 cm long and weighing 10–25 g.

The restless flycatcher or restless myiagra is a passerine bird in the family Monarchidae; it is also known as the razor grinder or scissors grinder because of its distinctive call. It is a native of eastern and southern Australia. Populations in New Guinea and northern Australia, which were at one time considered to be a subspecies, are now accepted as a separate species, the paperbark flycatcher. It is a small to medium-sized bird and has similar colouring to the willie wagtail.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
17–22 cm
Weight
10–25 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Restless Flycatcher?

The Restless Flycatcher is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

graeme lunt · Lal Lal VIC 3352, Australia

Call

Andrew Gilbert · Framlingham VIC 3265, Australia

Call

Thomas Mesaglio · Arthursleigh Farm property, New South Wales

Call

jimchurches · Hovells Creek NSW 2794, Australia

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Restless Flycatcher eat?

The Restless Flycatcher feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

2 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Restless Flycatcher live in Australia?

The Restless Flycatcher is endemic to Australia, recorded across 70 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingSouth-west WA and south SA to north-east QLD and VIC (south-west and east Australia)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant

8 regions recorded