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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
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Physical description |
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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.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Spotted
Flycatcher at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat |
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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 Spotted Flycatcher is available
HERE
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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. The most likely race to cross is
"sarudnyi",
whose breeding range extends from eastern Iran and Turkmenistan
to the mountains of central Asia and northern Pakistan.
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.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "sarudnyi"
Race "striata"
Spotted Flycatchers, nominate race "striata",
have since also been spotted by us in
Europe.
Race "tyrrhenica"
Spotted Flycatchers, nominate race "tyrrhenica",
have since also been spotted by us in
Europe.
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Photos |
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Race "sarudnyi"(?)
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ADULT |
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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]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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Juvenile Spotted Flycatcher; note the orange gape and the very
light-grey front
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, April 2010]
Race "striata"
Photos of Spotted Flycatchers, race "striata",
have been obtained by us in
Europe.
Race "tyrrhenica"
Photos of Spotted Flycatchers, race "tyrrhenica",
have been obtained by us in
Europe.
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Food, Diet |
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As their name suggests, Spotted Flycatchers are insect hunters. Most
flycatchers hunt for insects from low to mid-level perches.
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Call(s)/Song |
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For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own; are welcome.
More Spotted Flycatcher sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
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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.