From Opus

Male
Photo by Rob

Ficedula hypoleuca

Includes: Atlas Flycatcher

[edit] Identification

12-13 cm

• Large white wing patches
• White Underparts
• White outer tail feathers

Breeding Male

• Black upperparts
• White forehead

Adult Female: olive-brown above and lacks white forehead

[edit] Confusion Species

Collared Flycatcher

Female
Photo by Chrysophylax
Dimmingsdale, UK June 2009

[edit] Distribution

The most widespread and numerous of the three "pied" flycatchers of the Region. Breeds throughout most of Scandinavia and in mainland Europe from the Netherlands, Belgium and eastern France east to the Urals. Also breeds in parts of north and west Britain, at scattered sites in central and southern France, in central Iberia and in North-West Africa.

Migratory, leaving breeding areas in mid August-September to winter in West Africa and returns in mid April-June. Passage birds occur throughout most of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Occasional winter records from around the Mediterranean.

Vagrants recorded north to Svalbard, Iceland and Faroes, also Madeira and the Cape Verde Islands.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies^[1]

Three to four subspecies usually recognized:

• F. h. hypoleuca:

• British Isles and northern Europe to western Siberia; winters to tropical Africa

• F. h. iberiae: male has slightly larger white forehead patch

• Iberian Peninsula; winters in west Africa (not accepted by all authorities)

• F. h. sibirica (syn. tomensis): usually greyer than nominate but grey or brown individuals also occur commonly in Europe. ^[2]

• Taiga of western Siberia (Ural Mountains to Yenisey River); winters to eastern Africa

• F. h. speculigera: male has a much larger white forehead patch

• Morocco (south to Middle Atlas Mountains), northern Algeria and northern Tunisia
  

speculigera is sometimes considered a full species, Atlas Flycatcher^[1]

Subspecies iberiae Photo by Nunu El Escorial, Madrid, Spain, May 2009

Photo by Victor Tyakht near Moscow, Russia, June 2008

[edit] Habitat

Preferred habitat is mature deciduous woodland, especially oak, but also found in mixed and coniferous woodland in upland areas in south of range. Occurs in orchards and parks, sometimes large gardens and often in areas of scrub on passage.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

They nest in a tree hole; 4-10 eggs are laid. They readily take to nest boxes.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes insects which are aerially hawked.

[edit] Vocalisation

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
2. Avibase
3. Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
4. Wikipedia

• List of references

[edit] External Links