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Muscicapa striata

warning Vulnerable
VU (C1)

Contributed: Avner Rinot, Asaf Mayrose, Yoav Perlman, Lior Kislev, Rei Segali, Zev Labinger, Ezra Hadad, Yaron Bazer, Ido Zurim, Yuvak Dax, Eyal Shochat

The Spotted Flycatcher is classified as Vulnerable (VU) because of the continued reduction in the size of its population and range. Its rate of decrease is estimated to exceed 10% over three generations (8.7 years). In the previous edition of the red book (2002), it was classified as Least Concern (LC). The worsening in its status reflects the significant decline of the breeding population and range.
VU Current Regional Assessment | LC Previous Regional Assessment | LC World Assessment

Habitats Parks & Woodlands, Planted Forest
Presence In Israel Summer Breeder
Nesting In Israel Breeder
Migration Types Long Range
Zoography Zones Mediterranean
Landscape Formations Mountainous, Plains & Valleys, Rural Area
Vegetation Formations Plantation, Forest, Mediterranean Maquis, Parks
Vegetation Densities Medium
Nest Locations Tree
Diet Types Invertebrate
Foraging Grounds Aerial
Body Sizes Small (up to 500g)
Threat Factors Pesticide Poisoning, Habitat Desctruction

The Spotted Flycatcher is a relatively large flycatcher, with long wings and a long tail. Its plumage is streaked grey, and its upperparts are darker and lower parts paler. It hunts flying insects from prominent perches, snatching its prey in short flights and returning to its perch to eat it, flicking its wings and bobbing its tail.

A common passage migrant throughout Israel in spring and autumn migration and a relatively common summer breeder in Israel’s Mediterranean region, particularly in the Upper Galilee and Golan Heights. Once a common breeder in centeral Israel as well, south to the Be’er Sheva-Ofakim line in the south, but today is rare south of Haifa and the Jezreel Valley.

No specific conservation measures have been taken for this species to date.

The Spotted Flycatcher is an insectivorous bird and long-distance migrant in which the entire population overwinters in Africa south of the Sahel. Like other insect-eating birds, it has been adversely affected presumably by excessive use of pesticides in agriculture as well as by drying up and over-exploitation of habitats in its African wintering grounds.

  • פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.
Contributed: Avner Rinot, Asaf Mayrose, Yoav Perlman, Lior Kislev, Rei Segali, Zev Labinger, Ezra Hadad, Yaron Bazer, Ido Zurim, Yuvak Dax, Eyal Shochat

Current Occupancy Map

Distribution maps

The maps presented here provide visual information on the distribution of species in Israel in the past and present, and the changes in occupancy and nesting density during the comparison period. For further reading


Relative Abundance 2010-2020

Breeding density values as calculated from observation records and expert opinions.

Relative Abundance 1980-1990

Breeding density values are based mainly on the book Birds of Israel (Shirihai 1996).

Occupancy difference 1990-2020

A map that expresses differences in the breeding distribution between the evaluation periods (1980-1990 versus 2010-2020). Negative value - species previously present but is currently absent, positive value - species has not been recorded previously and is currently present, zero - no change in occupancy.

Relative abundance difference 1990-2020

A map that reflects the changes in the relative abundance of the species between the evaluation periods (1980-1990 versus 2010-2020). Negative values - decline in abundance, positive values - increase in abundance, zero - no change in abundance.


Rarity
Vulnerability
Attractiveness
Endemism
Red number
Peripherality

IUCN category
Definition

() districts
Disjunctiveness:
% of protected sites

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