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Collared Flycatcher
(Ficedula albicollis)
German name(s): "Halsbandschnäpper"
Size: 12-13.5 cm
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Collared Flycatchers are small insectivore birds. Their
plumage is
dimorphic, i.e.
males
and females
are different.
Male
Collared Flycatchers are all black and white.
The entire front, from the chin and the sides of the neck below
the ear coverts downwards, is white.
The head (except for two white patches on the frons) and the
back are black, with the exception of the nape of the neck,
which is white. Also the rump has a large greyish patch.
The mantle, upperwing coverts and flight feathers are also black.
The characteristic feature of all males is a large white
patch above the base of the bill.
What gives them their name is a complete white collar that
sets off the head from the rest of the body.
Female
Collared Flycatchers show the same morphology as males.
However, where the males are black, they are dark-grey and
where the males are white they are off-white to light-grey,
especially on the chest. In addition, they lack the white patch
above the bill.
The characteristic feature of both sexes is a long fairly large white
mark on the primary coverts, under the prominent white wing bar.
Females
can also have a second, faint wing bar.
The irises of both sexes are black. The short, straight bill is
dark-grey. Legs and feet are also dark-grey.
Immature males and
juveniles
closely resemble
females.
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Twitcher's tip |
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Collared Flycatchers have a complete white neckband, while
Semi-collared
Flycatchers have a narrow black gap at the nape of the neck and
Pied Flycatchers
have a wide black gap at the nape of the neck.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Collared
Flycatcher at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
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The global distribution of the Collared Flycatcher is available
HERE
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Collared Flycatchers are found only in parts of Europe,
Asia Minor and along the eastern Mediterranean coastline.
In Europe Collared Flycatchers are found as breeding migrants
in parts of Italy (mostly the Appennin mountains) central
(southern Germany) and south-eastern Europe (mainly the Balkans)
and from there eastward to the Dnjepr river.
During their migration they can be found more widely through
central Europe (Poland, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech
Republic) and all of south-eastern Europe.
Collared Flycatchers are not found in Europe in winter.
Collared Flycatchers have a preference for deciduous woodland
or forest, but are also found in parks and gardens.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "albicollis"
A. Sarok reports spotting an Collared Flycatcher, nominate race
"albicollis",
near Temerin, Serbia, April 2013.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this page
has kindly been contributed by A. Sarok.
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Photos |
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Race "albicollis"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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Lateral view of a male Collared Flycatcher
(photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Near Temerin, Serbia, April 2013]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.