Taiga Flycatcher

Ficedula albicilla (Pallas, 1811)

		male female
2013-06-20 Ortoliik, Kosh-Agach district, Altai Republic 2011-06-03 SW Tuva. Mongun-Taiginsky kozhuun.	© Elena Shnayder © Aleksey Holin

Description

Taiga Flycatcher looks like Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) and former was considered as its subspecies. Crown more brownish, less greyish; orange-buff patch on throat and breast are less than in Red-breasted Flycatcher. Breast (excepting orange-buff patch) is usually ashy-grey.

Biology

Rare breeding migrant. It inhabits deciduous and mixed forests in mountains up to 1300 m in Altai. On migration visits bush thickets, man-made forests and groves. It arrives in end of April - early May; poor flight finishes in end of May. Nest is built in tree (in Siberia mostly in tree holes) at 0.1-1.1 m above ground; nest is from moss, dry grass, bast, thin rootlets, and is lined with poplar fluff, hair and feathers. Only female builds nest. Clutches of 4-7 eggs founded in end of May - mid-June. Broods recorded in end June - late July. Only one nest is known for Kazakhstan. Autumn migration passes from the end of August, majority of birds fly out in September, latest migrants recorded in mid - end October.

References