Pied flycatcher ©Richard Steel/2020VISION
©Mark Hamblin/2020VISION
Pied flycatcher
The pied flycatcher is a summer visitor, migrating here from West Africa to breed. Look for this small, black-and-white bird in woodland, parks and gardens, mostly in the west of the UK.
Scientific name
Ficedula hypoleucaWhen to see
April to SeptemberSpecies information
Statistics
Length: 12cmWingspan: 19cm
Weight: 12g
Average lifespan: 2 years
Classified in the UK as Amber under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red List for Birds (2021). Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.
Habitats
About
The pied flycatcher is a small, black-and-white bird of mature woodland, parks and gardens, with a preference for oak trees. It is a summer visitor from April and May onwards, and breeds mainly in western areas; it spends the winter in West Africa. Pied flycatchers may be seen sitting patiently on a perch, waiting for a chance to fly out and catch their insect-prey mid-air. They also search for insects on tree trunks and on the ground.How to identify
The pied flycatcher is slightly smaller than a house sparrow. Males are mostly black above and white below, with a bold white patch on the folded wing. Females have the same basic patterning, but are browner in colour.Distribution
Found mainly across the west of the UK.Did you know?
Pied flycatchers time their spring migration to arrive just in time to feed their young on emerging caterpillars.Watch
Pied Flycatcher (https://vimeo.com/447524233)
Pied Flycatcher by Tom Hibbert