Spotted flycatcher

    Muscicapa striata

Castilian: Papamoscas gris

Catalan: Papamosques gris

Gallego: Papamoscas cincento

Euskera: Euli-txori grisa

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Passeriformes

Family: Muscicapidae

Migratory status: Summer resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

On the National List of Threatened Species, it appears in the “Of Special Interest” category. In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Not Evaluated”.

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THREATS

Because it is an insectivorous species, the main threat it faces is the ever greater use of insecticides.

Length / size: 14-15 cm / 23-25,5 cm

Identification: Medium-sized bird whose colour pattern is quite homogeneous, with grey on its back and whitish underparts, with a faint stripe on its crown, throat and breast.

Song: Not very unique, with high-pitched, screechy notes; it begins slowly and is broken up by changes in rhythm, "eez eez eeree cheereeteerree". Its call is a strident "zee".

Diet: It feeds on flying insects such as bugs, butterflies, flies and mosquitos, which it catches in flight. In autumn it also consumes berries and fruits.

Reproduction: The breeding period begins at the end of May. The nest is a cup made of dry grass and other plant matter that both the male and female contribute, and they normally place the nest in tree hollows; sometimes the nest is placed on top of tree branches or shrub branches, or in nesting boxes. The female is in charge of incubation, but the chicks are fed by both parents.

HABITAT

It prefers wooded areas that are not very thick, with scrubland and wet areas nearby. It occupies orchards, countryside, gardens and city parks.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: It is evenly distributed throughout the northern region except for Galicia, and in the Mediterranean region; in the rest of the area, it is found on a fragmented basis.

In Castile and León: It breeds in all the provinces, with the most densent concentrations in Segovia, northern Burgos, and western León, and in specific places in the rest of the territory.

Movements and migrations: It is a trans-Saharan migratory species, with wintering areas in tropical Africa.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 640000-690000 breeding pairs (1997 data).

In Castile and León: There is an estimated population of 2000-2500 breeding pairs.