From Opus

Photo by John M
Scotland, May 2006

Muscicapa striata

[edit] Identification

L 13.5-15 cm
Small to medium sized, rather slim passerine. Lacks any obvious features though in profile is has a rounded crown and the head appears rather large. Greyish brown upperparts and off-white underparts with dark streaking on the breast and sides of throat as well as the forehead and forecrown.
It has a dark bill and black, short legs, dark eyes with narrow pale eye-ring.
Sexes are alike.

[edit] Distribution

Found in Europe, North Africa and east to Siberia, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Mongolia to south-east Transbaikalia.

Found throughout Britain and Ireland but are far more scarce in the north of Scotland and the west coast of Ireland. Their numbers have declined terribly since the sixties. A summer visitor that winters in Africa.

Accidental to Alaska with 1 record.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies^[1]

There are seven subspecies

• M. s. striata:

• Europe to North Africa, Siberia and Asia Minor; winters to southern Africa

• M. s. neumanni:

• Eastern Siberia to Caucasus, southern China and southern Asia; winters to eastern Africa

• M. s. balearica:

• Balearic Islands; winters to western and south-western Africa

• M. s. tyrrhenica:

• Corsica and Sardinia

• M. s. sarudnyi:

• Caucasus Mountains to northern Iran and Afghanistan; winters to East Africa

• M. s. inexpectata:

• Crimean Peninsula

• M. s. mongola:

• South-eastern Altai to northern Mongolia to south-eastern Transbaikalia

[edit] Habitat

Breeds in gardens, parks and in forests, often appearing to prefer spots with small glades and openings among tall deciduous trees.

[edit] Behaviour

Has an upright posture and usually sits with tail flicking whilst it watches for flying Insects, then quickly flies out to snap it's prey and returns, often to the same tree branch, post or wire fence.

[edit] Diet

Almost entirely consists of small flying insects.

[edit] Breeding

Nests in recess on tree trunk or building, often against a wall on branch of climbing shrub. Will also readily occupy open-fronted boxes.

The nest is made up of twigs, moss and grass and is then usually lined with hair, wool and feathers. One or two clutches of whitish, or blue-grey eggs, with reddish brown blotches are produced. They are incubated for about 2 weeks, the young being fed by both adults, mainly on small flies. They fledge after a further 2 weeks.

The breeding season runs from May to August.

[edit] Vocalisation

[edit] Reference

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.
2. Bird Watching
3. BF Member observations

• List of references

[edit] External Links