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Latin name

Muscicapa striata

Family

Flycatchers (Muscicapidae)

Overview

Larger than a pied flycatcher, it is grey-brown in colour with an off-white breast, streaked with darker grey and a streaked forehead. They like to perch conspicuously and watch for passing insects, flying out to snap them up, before returning to the perch. Recent dramatic population declines puts the spotted flycatcher high on the Red List.

Where to see them

During the breeding season spotted flycatchers can be found throughout the UK, although they are scarce in the far north and west and almost absent from Scottish islands. High densities are found from Devon and Kent as far north as the Dornoch Firth. Best looked for along woodland edges and in parks and gardens.

When to see them

They mainly arrive in May, and leave again in July and August. Passage birds from northern Europe can be seen in September.

What they eat

Insects

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.

Find out more

• Videos

Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100)

1 illustration

Spotted flycatcher

Similar birds

Pied flycatcher