Systematic notes on Asian birds. 60. Remarks on the systematic position of Ficedula elisae (Weigold, 1922)

Elise’s Flycatcher was described as a full species Ficedula elisae (Weigold, 1922a), but in 1937 was made a subspecies of the Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina (Temminck, 1836), and Zheng et al., 2000, mistook its males for an undescribed species which they named “Ficedula beijingnica”. More recently, owing to its phenotypic characteristics and analyses of its bioacoustics, it has been proposed that elisae should be restored to rank as a full species. After re-examining the full range of evidence it is here recommended to continue treating the taxon subspecifically as Ficedula narcissina elisae pending further information.