| Atlas Flycatcher | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Muscicapidae |
| Genus: | Ficedula |
| Species: | Ficedula speculigera |
The Atlas Flycatcher (Ficedula speculigera), more specifically known as the Atlas Pied Flycatcher, is an African Old World flycatcher, formerly considered as a subspecies of the European Pied Flycatcher, but is nowadays regarded as a species in its own right, partly in view of morphological and spatial differences, but also after genetic studies. It is the least known species of the Western Palearctic black-and-white flycatchers and is the only one of those to endemically live in Africa, specifically in the Atlas Mountains of northwest Africa.
Description[]
A 13 cm (5.1 in) long songbird, the Atlas Flycatcher is very similar in appearance to the Pied Flycatcher. Male Atlas Flycatchers have mixed characteristics akin of the European Pied Flycatcher and Collared Flycatcher, but with a bigger white forehead and larger white wing patches. The white collar and pale rump patch is absent in this species. It is hard to distinguish female Atlas Flycatchers from other female Western Palearctic black-and-white flycatchers. However, it is to note that the upperparts are grey and there is a big white primary base patch.
Voice[]
It has a subtly different call from the European Pied Flycatcher, as it has a slightly more metallic "whit" and a slower song in tempo.
Behavior[]
Diet[]
Its diet is mostly composed of insects, especially flying and non-flying ones.
Nesting[]
The nesting and breeding behavior of the Atlas Flycatcher is poorly understood. The exact number of eggs in a clutch the Atlas Flycatcher lays is not known. However, one research article shows that in an old oak forest in northeastern Algeria, a total of 102 nests monitored during 2010-2012 showed that the clutch size averaged 4.92 eggs and concluded that the low clutch size compared to European Pied Flycatcher populations was compensated by relatively high fledging success and thus ensured overall reproductive success of this species.[1] There is not any other specific info about this bird's nesting behavior.
Distribution and Habitat[]
The Atlas Flycatcher occurs in Morocco (from southern to central eastern Atlas Mountains), northern Algeria and northern Tunisia. It nests in cedar (Cedrus) and oak (Quercus), and inhabits pine forests of the species Pinus halepensis, but also in palm groves and gardens.