Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Perched quietly on branches, this unassuming songbird launches into sudden, graceful aerial acrobatics to snatch flying insects mid-air.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

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.

Size

Length

14cm to 16cm

Wingspan

23cm to 25cm

Weight

14g to 20g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Grey Brown

Secondary Colour

White

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Spotted Flycatcher can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Spotted Flycatcher can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Spotted Flycatcher is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Spotted Flycatcher is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Spotted Flycatcher can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Spotted Flycatcher can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Spotted Flycatcher is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Spotted Flycatcher is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Spotted Flycatcher is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Spotted Flycatcher is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Spotted Flycatcher is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Spotted Flycatcher is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

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.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,200 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

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:

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