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The semicollared flycatcher (''Ficedula semitorquata'') is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family, one of the four species of 
The breeding male is mainly black above and white below, with a white half-collar, extending further back than in pied, large white wing patch, extensively white tail sides and a large white forehead patch. It has a pale grey rump. The bill is black and has the broad but pointed shape typical of aerial insectivores. It mainly takes insects in flight, rarely hunting
Semi-collared Flycatcher in Armenia, Armenian Bird Census Council {{Taxonbar, from=Q1591580 Ficedula, semicollared flycatcher Birds of Europe Birds of West Asia semicollared flycatcher
Western Palearctic black-and-white flycatchers
The term Western Palearctic black-and-white flycatchers is used to refer to a group of similar-looking birds in the genus ''Ficedula'':
* Atlas pied flycatcher ''F. speculigera'' which breeds in Northwest Africa
* Collared flycatcher ''F. albicoll ...
. It breeds in montane forests of the southeastern corner of Europe (Balkan Peninsula
The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...
) to Northwest Iran. It is migratory, wintering in Central and Eastern Africa. It is a rare vagrant in western Europe. Tracking studies using geolocators have revealed that weather conditions during spring migration can have a large impact on the timing of Semicollared flycatcher migration and survival of adult birds.
This is a 12–13.5 cm long bird, intermediate in appearance between collared flycatcher and European pied flycatcher. It has often been classed as a subspecies of collared flycatcher.
The breeding male is mainly black above and white below, with a white half-collar, extending further back than in pied, large white wing patch, extensively white tail sides and a large white forehead patch. It has a pale grey rump. The bill is black and has the broad but pointed shape typical of aerial insectivores. It mainly takes insects in flight, rarely hunting caterpillar
Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths).
As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder Sym ...
s amongst the tree foliage like pied flycatcher.
Non-breeding male, females and juvenile semi-collared flycatchers have the black replaced by a pale brown, and may be very difficult to distinguish from other '' Ficedula'' flycatchers, particularly the collared flycatcher. A distinction is that semicollared may show a white second wing bar, but many individuals are not separable in the field.
Semicollared flycatchers are birds of belts of deciduous woodlands, especially oak and hornbeam, in mountainous areas. They build an open nest in a native tree-holes and old nests of woodpeckers, also the species can occupy nest-boxes. The clutch size is 4-7 eggs. The song is again intermediate between collared and pied flycatchers, with slow strained whistles, but some rhythmic elements.
References
External links
Semi-collared Flycatcher in Armenia, Armenian Bird Census Council {{Taxonbar, from=Q1591580 Ficedula, semicollared flycatcher Birds of Europe Birds of West Asia semicollared flycatcher