# European Pied Flycatcher (*Ficedula hypoleuca*) The European Pied Flycatcher is a small, beautiful bird with a black and white body. It loves to catch insects in mid-air and can be found in forests during the summer. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![European Pied Flycatcher](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ficedula_hypoleuca_-Wood_of_Cree_Nature_Reserve%252C_Scotland_-male-8a.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mark Medcalf, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ficedula_hypoleuca_-Wood_of_Cree_Nature_Reserve%252C_Scotland_-male-8a.jpg) ## Appearance The European Pied Flycatcher male has a striking black back and head with a bright white belly and large white wing patch, making it distinctly pied. Females are duller, with brownish-grey upperparts and a creamy white underside, sometimes showing a faint wing bar. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Muscicapidae - **Genus:** Ficedula ## Interesting facts - Pied Flycatchers double their body weight by eating lots of bugs before flying to Africa! - Some male flycatchers are sneaky and try to have two mates at different nest sites! - These little birds can change their 'outfit' – young males look like females at first! - When a male sings, he's not just attracting a mate, but also warning rivals away! ## Special abilities - **Insect Interceptor:** European Pied Flycatcher can expertly snatch flying insects right out of the air because of its keen eyesight and agile flight. - **Migration Navigator:** European Pied Flycatcher has an internal compass that helps them find their way across thousands of kilometers between Europe and Africa. - **Hole Home Hunter:** European Pied Flycatcher can locate and claim tree holes or nest boxes because it prefers dark, enclosed spaces for nesting. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 12-13.5 cm - **Wingspan:** 22-24 cm - **Weight:** 0.01-0.015 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-8 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-7 - **Incubation:** 13-15 days - **Migration Distance:** 4000 km ## Diet & Feeding This bird loves to eat all kinds of tiny insects and spiders, catching them mostly on the wing! - **Primary Foods:** Flies, Beetles, Moths, Caterpillars, Spiders, Ants - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Sparrowhawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-sparrowhawk) (*Accipiter nisus*) — a common predator of small songbirds. - **Depends on:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — competes for prime nesting holes in trees. - **Eats:** [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) — snatches spiders from their webs or foliage. - **Eats:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — catches bees while they are flying. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low It's best to watch birds from a distance and not disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify European Pied Flycatcher? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is European Pied Flycatcher? 12-13.5 cm ### What is European Pied Flycatcher's wingspan? 22-24 cm ### How much does European Pied Flycatcher weigh? 0.01-0.015 kg ### How long does European Pied Flycatcher live? 2-8 years ### How fast can European Pied Flycatcher move? 35 km/h ### What does European Pied Flycatcher eat? This bird loves to eat all kinds of tiny insects and spiders, catching them mostly on the wing! ### Where is European Pied Flycatcher usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Cabrera Archipelago National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cabrera-archipelago-national-park) — Spain, ES · National Park - [Monts d’Ardèche Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monts-dardeche-regional-nature-park) — Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, FR · Park ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [European Pied Flycatcher: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-pied-flycatcher)