Muscicapa striata - Spotted Flycatcher
Feather characters. Barbules are rather short (0.73-0.85 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and partly pigmented (less than 50%) internodes. Bell-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (34-38 per mm). They all are about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. Villi are rounded and internodes are straight. Prongs are absent. Occasionally minute prongs may be found on distal end of barbules. Barbules have this typical structure for Passeriformes; pigmented, bell-shaped nodes combined with rounded villi.
Field characters. Size 14 cm. Weight 14.6 g (12.2-17.0) (Dunning, 1993). Brown or grey-brown with dark streaks on breast and forehead. Wing coverts and tertials with brown edges, underparts greyish-white, no white in tail. Narrow and inconspicuous whitish eye-ring. Sexes alike. Upright stance and streaked breast are best field characters. Usually found alone, in pairs or in family parties.
Voice. Call high and shrill 'tsee' or 'tsree'. Song high and hurried, resembling a repetition of calls.
Distribution. Common summer visitor. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Open deciduous and mixed woodland, parks, gardens, and orchards.
Food. Mainly insects, caught in typical flycatcher-way: insects are spotted from perch and captured after short pursuit-flight, after which bird returns to same or nearby perch.