The Wet Woodland Bird Survey
Spotted
Flycatcher |
Appearance | Most
frequently seen perched upright on a fence or twig. It will then fly out to catch passing
insects, returning to its original, or another, nearby perch. The upperparts are
greyish-brown,with a crown streaked brown and buff. The underparts are white with
buff-brown streaking. It has a short broad black bill. Size: 13.5-14.5cm tall |
Voice | Call is a weak tzee, sounding just like a squeaky gate. |
Habitat | Gardens, heaths, woods and hedges. |
Food | Insects. |
Breeding Habits | 4-5
eggs in a cup-like nest against a wall or a tree trunk.The nest is often close to the
ground. Incubation takes 11-15 days and fledging takes 12-14 days. 1-2 broods per year; May-June. |
Location in Wet Woodland | I saw a pair in the stony area. This area is good for these birds because it contains a lot of high, open perches for the flycatchers to catch flies and call from. It was mainly observed perching, calling and feeding. It regularly flew onto the ground to catch insects. |