Red-breasted Flycatcher

Ficedula parva

Introduction

The Red-breasted Flycatcher resembles a pale Robin, with its black and white patterned tail characteristically cocked. This is a scarce migrant from central and eastern Europe, that is commoner in autumn than spring. Annual numbers are thought to be around 100 individuals.

Breeding from central Europe east to the Ural Mountains, Red-breasted Flycatcher is a migrant, whose wintering grounds are in India.

Key Stats

Rare

9.5g

5-6

<1%

BTO Records

7.6k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

-83.3% contraction

Identification

Curated resources to aid in the identification of Red-breasted Flycatcher

Songs and Calls

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Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Red-breasted Flycatcher, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

Song:

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

Yes

Listed on the Annexes of*

WBD(I), Bern(III), Bonn(II)

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Cornwall, 1863

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Red-breasted Flycatcher is a scarce passage migrant to the UK, seen during both spring and autumn migrations [Parkin & Knox 2010]. The number of individuals reported in the UK each year is rather variable, but there is no apparent long-term trend [White & Kehoe 2024]. At the European scale, the population is thought to be increasing [BirdLife International 2021].

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.3%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Winter Distribution for Red-breasted Flycatcher

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding Distribution for Red-breasted Flycatcher

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

-83.3 %

Seasonality

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Red-breasted Flycatcher is a scarce autumn passage migrant, typically encountered in September and October; there are occasional spring records.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Red-breasted Flycatcher movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Red-breasted Flycatcher, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Productivity and Nesting

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Nesting timing

Typical (exceptional) number of broods

Source

Egg measurements

Typical length x width

17x13 mm

Mass (% shell)

1.5g (5%)

Source

Clutch Size

Typical number

6-5 eggs

Observed minimum and maximum

4-7 eggs

Source

Incubation

Incubation by

Female

Typical duration

13-12 days

Source

Fledging

Type of chick

Altricial, downy

Typical duration

13-12 days

Source

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

Biometrics

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Wing length and body weights are from live birds (source).

Wing length

Average ±1 std deviation; range and sample size in brackets.

Juvenile

68.5±1.4 mm

(66-71 mm, N=53)

Body weight

Average ±1 std deviation; range and sample size in brackets.

Juvenile

68.5±1.4 mm

(66-71 mm, N=53)

Ring Size

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Red-breasted Flycatcher

Classification and Codes

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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Scientific name: Ficedula parva
Authority: Bechstein, 1792

BTO 2-letter code: FY
BTO 5-letter code: REBFL
Euring code number: 13430

Alternate species names

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Catalan: papamosques menut
Czech: lejsek malý
Danish: Lille Fluesnapper
Dutch: Kleine Vliegenvanger
Estonian: väike-kärbsenäpp
Finnish: pikkusieppo
French: Gobemouche nain

German: Zwergschnäpper
Hungarian: kis légykapó
Icelandic: Peðgrípur
Irish: Cuilire Broinnrua
Italian: Pigliamosche pettirosso
Latvian: mazais muškerajs
Lithuanian: mažoji margoji musinuke
Norwegian: Dvergfluesnapper

Polish: mucholówka mala
Portuguese: papa-moscas-real
Slovak: muchárik malý
Slovenian: mali muhar
Spanish: Papamoscas papirrojo
Swedish: mindre flugsnappare
Welsh: Gwybedog Brongoch

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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