Hemichelidon griseosticta Swinhoe, Ibis (1861), 330.
Muscicapa griseisticta Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1879), 4,
153; Whitehead, Ibis (1899), 104 (winter).
Hemichelidon griseisticta Sharpe, Hand-List (1901), 3, 204;
McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 71.
Au-á, Cagayancillo.
Bohol (McGregor); Basilan (McGregor); Cagayancillo (McGregor);
Cagayan Sulu (McGregor); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester,
McGregor); Calayan (McGregor); Caluya (Porter); Catanduanes
(Whitehead); Cuyo (McGregor); Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Everett,
Schmacker, Whitehead, McGregor); Masbate (Bourns & Worcester);
Mindoro (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Negros (Everett, Steere
Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Palawan (Whitehead, Platen, Bourns &
Worcester, White); Panay (Steere); Siquijor (Bourns & Worcester,
Celestino); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester). Japan, China, Ussuri
Land, New Guinea, Celebes, Moluccas.
Adult (sexes similar).--Above dusky brown; centers of feathers
and head darker; wings and tail blackish brown; secondaries and
wing-coverts fringed with white; below white; breast and sides of
throat and of abdomen marked with wide, dusky brown shaft-streaks;
middle of abdomen and under tail-coverts white; feathers of thighs
brown, tipped with white. A male from Benguet measures: Length,
133; wing, 86; tail, 51; culmen from base, 12; bill from nostril,
8. A female from Culion measures: Length, 127; wing, 80; tail, 45;
culmen from base, 11; bill from nostril, 7. The folded wing reaches
nearly or quite to the end of the tail.
In the gray-spotted flycatcher there is some variation in the brown
streaks of the under parts, but this species is not easily mistaken for
any other bird except Piprisoma æruginosum which has a very differently
shaped bill. The gray-spotted flycatcher is one of the commonest
winter visitants and is found in small numbers throughout the islands.
"Fairly common; often seen perched on some isolated tree in the open,
from which it flies now and then in pursuit of insects. Six males
average: Length, 132; wing, 83.5; tail, 50; culmen, 13; tarsus, 14;
middle toe with claw, 15. Four females, length, 128; wing, 81; tail,
49; culmen, 13; tarsus, 14; middle toe with claw, 15. Iris, legs, feet,
and nails almost black; bill black, except base of lower mandible,
which is yellowish or gray." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)