Convervation status: Amber

1 video

Latin name

Ficedula hypoleuca

Family

Flycatchers (Muscicapidae)

Overview

The pied flycatcher is a small, flycatching bird, slightly smaller than a house sparrow. The male is mostly black on the upperparts and white underneath, with a bold white patch on the folded wing. Females are browner. It is a summer visitor and breeds mainly in western areas, spending the winter in West Africa.

Where to see them

Found in mature woodlands mainly to the west of the UK, not in N Ireland. The valleys and hillsides of Wales are a good place to look for breeding birds in summer and the RSPB's Nagshead reserve has a good population. You may also see it in spring and autumn at coastal migration watchpoints.

When to see them

Late April to September

What they eat

Insects and caterpillars; fruit and seeds in late summer and on migration.

Estimated numbers

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Sound: Patrik Aberg, Xeno-canto

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Pied flycatcher male

Pied flycatcher female

Similar birds

Pied wagtail