European Pied Flycatcher

Ficedula hypoleuca

With its striking black-and-white plumage, this small songbird zips through forests, snatching insects mid-flight with remarkable agility.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The European Pied Flycatcher is a small, striking bird with distinct black and white plumage in breeding males. Their white foreheads, white wing patches, and white outer tail feathers contrast sharply with their black upperparts.

Females and non-breeding males are predominantly brown-grey above and off-white below, with a pale wing patch. Both sexes have black irises, a short black bill, and black-brown legs.

Juveniles resemble females but have spotted upperparts and a buff wash to their plumage. They develop their full adult plumage by their first summer, although first-year adult males retain a brownish tinge.

Size

Length

12cm to 13.5cm

Wingspan

21cm to 24cm

Weight

9g to 17g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Black White

Secondary Colour

Brown Grey

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour (Female)

White

Beak Colour (Female)

Black

Leg Colour (Female)

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The European Pied Flycatcher can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The European Pied Flycatcher can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The European Pied Flycatcher is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The European Pied Flycatcher is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The European Pied Flycatcher is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The European Pied Flycatcher is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The European Pied Flycatcher is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The European Pied Flycatcher is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The European Pied Flycatcher is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The European Pied Flycatcher is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The European Pied Flycatcher is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The European Pied Flycatcher is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

European Pied Flycatchers breed across much of Europe, from Spain to western Russia. They favour mature deciduous and mixed woodlands, particularly those dominated by oak. They also prefer areas with an open understory and available nest cavities.

These birds are long-distance migrants, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. In the UK, they are most commonly found in western and northern areas, including Wales and Scotland, during the breeding season from April to August.

Passage sightings are commonly reported along the eastern coast of England and the Isle of Man.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a European Pied Flycatcher. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons