Description
The Collared Flycatcher is a small passerine. Adult males have very elegant plumage with a distinctive black-and-white collar on their backs; females and juveniles have more subdued colors. This insectivorous bird feeds mainly on flying insects and larvae, which it catches with rapid aerial dives. It inhabits primarily deciduous and mixed forests, preferring areas with good tree cover. The breeding season runs from May to July, with nests built in natural cavities or artificial nest boxes. The Collared Flycatcher is a long-distance migrant and winters in tropical Africa.
The Situation in Italian-Speaking Switzerland
The Collared Flycatcher is found in Switzerland exclusively in Ticino and Graubünden, where it reaches the western limit of its range. In the mid-1990s, the population was estimated at 20–25 pairs, nesting primarily in chestnut forests at altitudes between 500 and 1,000 meters. Currently, the species appears to be in sharp decline in Ticino and also in northern Italy. In 2004, a pilot study conducted by Ficedula to update the species’ distribution confirmed its further decline within the canton. Some pairs have established themselves in a new habitat type: floodplain forests. The lack of mature trees with cavities suitable for nesting and the degradation of chestnut groves are the main threats to the species.
The Collared Flycatcher was chosen as the association’s symbol. Ficedula has a project entirely dedicated to this species. You can find more information on this page.
- Ficedula albicollis
- Gobe-mouches à collier
- Halsbandschnäpper
- -
- Collared Flycatcher
- 13 cm
- 22–24 cm
