About the European Pied Flycatcher
The European pied flycatcher is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family. One of the four species of Western Palearctic black-and-white flycatchers, it hybridises to a limited extent with the collared flycatcher. It breeds in most of Europe and across the Western Palearctic. It is migratory, wintering mainly in tropical Africa. It usually builds its nests in holes on oak trees. This species practices polygyny, usually bigamy, with the male travelling large distances to acquire a second mate. The male will mate with the secondary female and then return to the primary female in order to help with aspects of child rearing, such as feeding.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
This is a 12–13.5 centimetres (4.7–5.3 in) long bird. The breeding male is mainly black above and white below, with a large white wing patch, white tail sides and a small forehead patch. The Iberian subspecies F. h. iberiae (known as Iberian pied flycatcher) has a larger forehead patch and a pale rump. Non-breeding males, females and juveniles have the black replaced by a pale brown, and may be very difficult to distinguish from other Ficedula flycatchers, particularly the collared flycatcher, with which this species hybridises to a limited extent.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the European Pied Flycatcher sounds like
Where the European Pied Flycatcher lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Chad, Mali, Niger, Azerbaijan, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Congo - Kinshasa, South Africa, China.
When to see the European Pied Flycatcher
Peak activity in June · a summer visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Collared FlycatcherFicedula albicollisThe collared flycatcher is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family, one of the four species of Western Palearctic black-and-white flycatchers.
Red-breasted FlycatcherFicedula parvaAt 11–12 cm long, this is a relatively small flycatcher, only slightly larger than the Eurasian wren.
Taiga FlycatcherFicedula albicillaThe taiga flycatcher or red-throated flycatcher is a migratory bird in the family Muscicapidae.
Side by side: European Pied Flycatcher vs European Robin · European Pied Flycatcher vs Red-breasted Flycatcher
Learn the European Pied Flycatcher in BeakBrain
Photo and call practice, free in any browser.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.