Spotted
Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)
M. striata breeds across most of
the Western and Central Palearctic. It winters south of the Sahara, passing
through the Sahel on migration. In Sussex it is a bird of woodland edges and
man-made habitats such as churchyards, cemeteries, orchards, farmyards, gardens
and parks. Woods with mature birch or ash and a diverse structure with features
such as rides and glades are important, whilst ivy-clad trees make safe sites
for nesting. It is often found near the edge of lakes, ponds and watercourses that
are rich in insect life.
The
future for M. striata in both Sussex
and Britain does not look promising. It seems that the problems on the
wintering grounds and migration route, including droughts in the Sahel region
south of the Sahara, will have to be addressed, if possible, if the species’
fortunes are to be reversed. Here in Sussex, if more of our woodland can be
brought back into suitable management, increasing the length of ride edge and
the area of glade habitat and ensuring that ivy is not controlled by stem
cutting, it will at least help those that make it here maximize their breeding
success.
References:
Black,
R. (2014). Spotted Flycatcher. The Birds of Sussex. Thetford: British
Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Books on behalf of the Sussex Ornithological
Society, pp. 502-503.
Parmenter,
T. (1996). Spotted Flycatcher. Birds of Sussex. Sussex
Ornithological Society, pp. 477-478.
