53. The Spotted Flycatcher

Flycatchers are small, sparrow-sized birds, of which we get five species visiting. One of these is the Spotted Flycatcher, but don't go thinking 101 Dalmatians! The "spots" are just a few dark streaks down the bird's breast, the rest is grey and white. But for all its drabness, the Spotted Flycatcher (M: Zanzarell tat-Tikek) is special to Maltese birders, as it's one of the few birds that breed here, and then not in large numbers either. By now, the young will be nicely fledged, learning to fly and joining their parents to look for food. Like other flycatchers, this bird often perches on exposed twigs or walls from where it darts out to snatch flying insects in mid-air, after which it returns to its perch, swallows its prey and gets ready for the next snack.

Text by Victor Falzon, photo by Raymond Galea.

Copyright to Birdlife Malta.