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Birds by name

Pied flycatcher

Conservation status: Amber

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.

Overview

Latin name

Ficedula hypoleuca

Family

Flycatchers (Muscicapidae)

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.

Population

EuropeUK breeding*UK wintering*UK passage*
-35,000-40,000 pairs--

* 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

Key

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

Illustrations

Audio

Patrik Aberg, Xeno-canto

Characteristics

Pied flycatcher

Pied flycatchers - male
  • Colouring: Male
  • Size: robin-sized or smaller
  • Feather colours: black, white
  • Beak colours: black/dark grey
  • Beak length: short
  • Beak thickness: short
  • Leg colour: black/grey, brown
  • Behaviour: on ground, wagging or flicking tail, bird hops on the ground, catches insects in flight, eats fruit

Pied flycatcher

Pied flycatcher - female
  • Colouring: Female
  • Size: robin-sized or smaller
  • Feather colours: brown, white, grey, cream/buff
  • Beak colours: black/dark grey
  • Beak length: short
  • Beak thickness: short
  • Leg colour: black/grey, brown
  • Behaviour: on ground, wagging or flicking tail, bird hops on the ground, catches insects in flight, eats fruit

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