Animalia Life
Ficedula albicollis
SUBFAMILY
Muscicapinae
TAXONOMY
Ficedula albicollis Temminck, 1795.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Half-collared flycatcher; semicollared flycatcher;
French: Gobemouche а collier; German: Halsbandschnдpper;
Spanish: Papamoscas Collarino.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The body length is about 4.5 in (11.5 cm), with the male colored
black-and-white, with a black back and head, an intervening
white collar at the nape, a white belly and throat, and
white wing-flashes. The female and juvenile are gray with a
white belly and throat and white wing-flashes. The winter male
is colored more grayish. Various subspecies have been described
based on plumage and song characters.
DISTRIBUTION
Breeds widely in Europe, and winters in eastern equatorial
Africa.
HABITAT
Breeds in temperate forest, woods, parks, orchards, and gardens.
BEHAVIOR
A migratory species. Pairs of breeding birds defend a territory.
Winters as single birds. Often raises its fanned tail while
perched. The song is delivered from a prominent perch, and is
a varied series of soft trills.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Catches flying insects by an aerial sally from a prominent
perch. Usually returns persistently to the same perch.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Nests in a tree-cavity or holes in rock walls, and also uses nestboxes.
Lays five to seven blue eggs.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. A widespread and locally abundant species.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known, except for the economic benefits of birdwatching.
Photo Gallery of - Collared flycatcher
