21

Spotted Flycatcher

(Muscicapa striata)
Note: "Spotted" Flycatcher is a misnomer (striata = "Striated")!
Size: 13.5-15 cm; wing span 23-23.5 cm
Weight: 10-21 g

Description

Classification

Distribution

Sightings

Photos

Breeding

Nest

Eggs

Behaviour

Food

Call/s

Physical description

Click here for physical description of this species Click here for a physical description

Spotted Flycatchers are small insectivore birds. Their plumage is cryptic. They are basically grey to grey-brown all over, with some striation on the crown and down the throat and chest. The wing coverts have light-grey edge lining, while the flight feathers and the tail are dark-grey. The back is mid-grey, while the belly, vent and undertail coverts are light-grey. Only the supercilium has a noticeable brownish tinge. The irises are dark. The straight bill is dark-grey; the legs and feet are also dark-grey. Juvenile Spotted Flycatchers have a lighter-grey front than adults.

Taxonomy, classification

See Spotted Flycatcher at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat

Click here for information on habitat and range

The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to the ebird.org website. The global distribution of the Spotted Flycatcher is available HERE . Spotted Flycatchers are a migratory species with in total about 7 races. Their breeding range extends from western Europe, including the British Isles, and near-coastal north-western Africa, to central and southern central Asia in the East. On migration they are found in parts of North Africa, all of Asia Minor, parts of the Middle East and the Arabian peninsula. They spend the northern winters in parts of Africa and south-west Asia.

In passage between Africa and Asia Spotted Flycatchers are found basically everywhere, at least along the near-coastal fringes of Arabia.

Spotted Flycatchers have a preference for habitats with some vegetation (shrubs, trees) with suitable perches, from which they hawk for insects into open areas. We have found Spotted Flycatchers in an arboretum.

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

A Spotted Flycatcher was first seen by us on the Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, in October 2009. The juvenile bird shown was spotted in April 2010.

Spotted Flycatchers, nominate race "striata", have since also been spotted by us in Europe.

Photos

ADULT

Near-frontal view of a Spotted Flycatcher
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]

Lateral view of a Spotted Flycatcher
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]

Lateral view of a Spotted Flycatcher on rocky terrain near a pond
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]

Near-dorsal view of a Spotted Flycatcher
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]

Dorsal view of a Spotted Flycatcher
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Juvenile Spotted Flycatcher; note the orange gape and the very light-grey front
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, April 2010]

Food, Diet

As their name suggests, Spotted Flycatchers are insect hunters. Most flycatchers hunt for insects from low to mid-level perches.

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

spotfly_dw_20160813.m4a

(Poland)

Contact calls?

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