What does a Collared Flycatcher sound like - Bird song - Bird sounds

#birds #birdsounds #fieldrecording The Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) has a surprisingly varied song, but it is generally a short, lively series of clear whistles and notes, often with a slightly scratchy or buzzing element. It can sound a little like: “tsee-tsee… tsee-tsee-tsee… chip-chip… whee-oo” The song is typically quite fast and intermittent, with individual phrases separated by pauses. It can be difficult to identify by ear because it has considerable variation and can incorporate calls from other birds. Its call is often a sharp, dry “tek” or “tik”, sometimes repeated. Habitat Prefers mature deciduous woodland, particularly oak and beech woods. Often associated with old trees containing natural holes, which it uses for nesting. It can also occur in parks, orchards and woodland edges. During migration it may turn up in gardens, scrub and other wooded habitats. Location It is mainly a European breeding bird, with its strongest populations in eastern and central Europe, including parts of Sweden, Finland, the Baltic region, Poland, the Balkans and Italy. It is a migrant, spending the winter mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. In Britain, Collared Flycatcher is a scarce passage migrant, rather than a regular breeding species. They are most likely to be encountered during spring and autumn migration, particularly on the east and south coasts. Food It mainly eats flying insects, which it catches by making short flights from a perch. Its diet includes: Flies Beetles Moths Butterflies Other small flying insects Spiders and other small invertebrates It will also take insects from foliage and the ground, and occasionally eats berries. Nest Collared Flycatchers are cavity nesters. They typically use: Natural holes in old trees Woodpecker holes Nest boxes The nest is made from moss, grass, bark and other plant material, with finer material such as hair or feathers forming the lining. The female usually lays around 4–7 pale bluish eggs and does most of the incubation. The young remain dependent on their parents for a while after leaving the nest. Interesting facts about the Collared Flycatcher It is a long-distance migrant. Collared Flycatchers breed in Europe and migrate to sub-Saharan Africa for winter, making a remarkable journey twice a year. The males have a striking white collar. This is where the bird gets its name. The male also has a black-and-white plumage that makes it particularly distinctive during the breeding season. They are cavity nesters. Rather than building an open nest in a tree, they look for a hole — often an old woodpecker hole or a nest box. They can be surprisingly aggressive about nest sites. Despite their small size, males may compete fiercely with other flycatchers and cavity-nesting birds for suitable holes. They catch insects in mid-air. A bird may sit quietly on a branch, suddenly dart out to catch a flying insect, and then return to its perch — classic flycatcher behaviour. They can hybridise with Pied Flycatchers. Where the two species overlap, they sometimes mate and produce hybrids. This is particularly interesting because the two species are closely related but normally maintain distinct appearances and behaviours. Their plumage varies geographically. There is quite a bit of variation in the amount of black and white, particularly among males. They are relatively small. They are only around 12–13 cm long, roughly the size of a Great Tit, although their longer wings and upright flycatcher posture can make them look different. The female is much less conspicuous. Unlike the striking black-and-white male, females are mainly brownish-grey above and pale underneath, giving them excellent camouflage around the nest. They have an interesting relationship with nest boxes. In parts of Europe, researchers have used nest-box populations of Collared Flycatchers to study everything from mate choice and competition to migration and climate change. And an interesting fact for Britain For British birdwatchers, the Collared Flycatcher is particularly exciting because it is not a regular breeding bird here. Seeing one in Britain is generally a migration event, with birds occasionally appearing in suitable habitat during spring or autumn passage.