About Muscicapa striata (Pallas, 1764)
This bird species, the spotted flycatcher, has the scientific name Muscicapa striata (Pallas, 1764). It is a small, slim bird, measuring around 14.5 cm (5.7 in) in length and weighing 14–20 g (0.49–0.71 oz). It has dull grey-brown plumage on its upperparts and off-white plumage on its underparts. The crown, throat and breast are streaked with brown, while the edges of the wings and tail feathers are marked by thin, paler margins. The subspecies M. s. tyrrhenica has paler and warmer upperpart plumage, with more diffuse markings on the head and breast. Male and female spotted flycatchers look identical. Juveniles have ochre-buff spots on their upperparts and scaly brown spots on their underparts.
In terms of behaviour and ecology, spotted flycatchers hunt from visible, prominent perches. They make short flights out to catch passing flying insects, and often return to the same perch after each hunt. Their characteristic posture when perching is held upright. Most passerine birds moult their primary flight feathers in a sequence starting close to the body and moving outwards along the wing. The spotted flycatcher is unusual because it replaces its outer flight feathers before replacing those that are closer to the body. The call of the spotted flycatcher is a thin, drawn-out, soft, high-pitched tssssseeeeeppppp, which slightly descends in pitch.
