Red-breasted Flycatcher

The Red-breasted Flycatcher, Fidecula parva, is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family. It breeds in eastern Europe and across central Asia and is migratory, wintering in south Asia. It is a regular passage migrant in western Europe, whereas the Collared Flycatcher which breeds further west is rare. This is because of the different migration direction.

The Asian race Fidecula parva albicollis has the red throat surrounded by grey and a different song. It is sometimes separated as the Taiga Flycatcher, Fidecula albicollis.

The breeding male of this small flycatcher is mainly brown above and white below, with a grey head and orange throat. The bill is black and has the broad but pointed shape typical of aerial insectivores. As well as taking insects in flight, this species hunts caterpillars amongst the oak foliage, and will take berries.

Non-breeding males, females and juveniles have brown heads and lack the throat collar, but are easily distinguished from other Fidecula flycatchers on size and the wheatear-like tail pattern, with a inverted dark T against the white tail sides.

They are birds mainly deciduous woodlands, especially near water. They build an open nest in a tree hole or simialr recess. 4-7 eggs are laid. The song is melodious whistles, quite like Pied Flycatcher.