Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata (Pallas, 1764)

		adult juvenile
2006-09-09 Kanshengel, Ile region, Almaty oblast 2013-07-12 East Kazakhstan, Buhtarma river	© Askar Isabekov © Gennadiy Dyakin

Distribution

On migration occurs everywhere. Breeds in Ural valley; in Northern Kazakhstan, in Irtysh valley and in Altai; and in Karatau. Please see detailed distribution in the section Subspecies.

Biology

Common breeding migrant. Inhabits the light deciduous forests, birch-pine groves, edges of pine and taiga forests, mountain deciduous and juniper forests and groves at altitudes to 1450-1900 m in Altai, and 2000 m in Western Tien Shan. On migration visits the riparian deciduous forest, gardens, reed-beds, bush thickets and shelterbelts. In spring arrives in mid-end April or early May, migration finishes in end of May – early June. Breeds in separate pairs at distance 25-100 m from each other. Nest is located in tree (elm, willow, poplar, birch, pine, juniper tree), in stump, in tree or building cavity at height 1-14, usually 1-5 m above the ground. For 4-7 days only female builds nest from cobweb, dry grass, tree and bush bast and lined it with thin grass and sometimes with addition of hair, feathers and plant fluff. Clutch of 3-6 eggs is produced in mid-May – early July. Only female incubates it for 11-14 days, male feeds her. Both parents feed juveniles which fledge at age 13-14 days old, in late June to mid-August. Repeated breeding after loss of first nest is common. Autumn migration begins in early August, most of birds fly off in second half of August – early September. Odd birds recorded in end September – mid-October.

Subspecies

	Muscicapa striata striata (Раllas, 1764) Description. Upper parts are darker, brownish-tinged; dark streaks on under parts are more developed than in neumanni. Distribution. Breeds in middle current of Ural valley, probably nests and in south from Uralsk, where occurs in summer between Kolovertnoe and Budarino. One nest with 4 eggs found 18 May 2004 in 50 km north of Beyneu. Breeds also in Kokchetav upland and Irtysh valley up to Semipalatinsk, in Semeytau Mts. and in Kalbinskiy Altai. 11 June 1972 the restless pair recorded in Naurzum pine forest. On migration occurs in south of breeding range.
	Muscicapa striata neumanni (Poche, 1904) Description. Upper parts are lighter, pure grey; dark streaks on under parts are less developed than in striata. Distribution. Breeds on Southwest Altai and in Tarbagatay. In 24 July 2002 recorded as common in Kulyasu gorge, north-east Dzhungarskiy Alatau. On migration occurs in Kurgaldzhino Reserve, Semirechye and in Tien Shan foothills. In highland of Zailiyskiy Alatau in spring not observed, but in August – early September is common.
	Muscicapa striata sarudnyi (Snigirewski, 1928) Description. Upper parts are with light-buff tinge, whitish on forehead is more developed. Wing is blunt, usually P2 < or = P5, P1 is much often longer of upper wing great coverts. Distribution. Breeds and also occurs on migration in Western Tien Shan, in southern half of Karatau ridge, on northern slopes of Talasskiy Alatau (Aksu-Dzhabagly Reserve), in Karzhantau, Pskem and Ugam ridges. Isolated nesting was found at June 15, 2013 in gorge Eastern Rgaity (Zhetyzhol rodge).

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.