Muscicapa striata
The Spotted Flycatcher is a small, slender bird with an overall greyish-brown plumage.
It has a pale underside with fine, dark streaks on the breast and flanks, giving it a slightly 'spotted' appearance. The head is rounded with a flattened forehead, the bill is straight and slender, and they have large dark eyes.
Both sexes look similar, with juveniles showing more pronounced spotting. During the breeding season, adults may appear slightly paler due to feather wear, but there's no significant seasonal plumage change.
Spotted Flycatchers are most easily confused with the female Pied Flycatcher, although that species has a prominent white marking on each wing.
Length
14cm to 16cm
Wingspan
23cm to 25cm
Weight
14g to 20g
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Grey Brown
Secondary Colour
White
Beak Colour
Black
Leg Colour
Black
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Spotted Flycatchers inhabit open woodlands, forest edges, parks, and gardens across Europe and western Asia. They prefer areas with a mix of open spaces and scattered trees or tall shrubs that provide suitable perches for hunting.
As long-distance migrants, they spend winters in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. In the UK, they are summer, breeding visitors, arriving in late April or May and departing by September or early October.
Up to 2,200 meters
Temperate, Subtropical
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Spotted Flycatcher. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
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