Muscicapidae

The Old World flycatchers, part of the Muscicapidae family, are small passerine birds found mainly in Europe, Africa, and Asia, with some species like the bluethroat and northern wheatear also in North America. This family includes 357 species across 54 genera, characterized by small to medium size (9 to 22 cm) and varied plumage, often dull but sometimes bright in males. They primarily catch insects in flight, possessing broad, flattened bills, while ground-foragers have finer bills. These birds inhabit various environments with trees, migrate south in winter, and their nests can be well-constructed cups or simple linings in tree holes, with hole-nesters averaging eight eggs per clutch.

Common Redstart vs Black Redstart

Bird Identification Guide | Common Redstart vs Black Redstart

David Coultham

Family: Muscicapidae In the soft light of a summer morning, a flash of red catches the eye. A small bird ...

Whos Egg Is That

Common Birds and Their Eggs Explained

David Coultham

Introduction During late spring and early summer, you occasionally come across eggshells and may wonder what species of bird they ...