Animalia Life

Ficedula hypoleuca
SUBFAMILY
Muscicapinae
TAXONOMY
Ficedula hypoleuca Pallas, 1764.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: European pied flycatcher; French: Gobemouche noir; German: Trauerschnдpper; Spanish: Papamoscas Cerrojillo.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The body length is 5 in (13–14 cm). The male is colored strikingly black-and-white, with a black back and head, a white belly and throat, and white wing-flashes. The female and juvenile are gray above, with a white belly and throat, and white wing-flashes. The winter male is colored more grayish.
DISTRIBUTION
Breeds widely in northern and central Europe and European Russia, and winters in western 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 loud 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, and also uses nest-boxes. 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.

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