European Pied Flycatcher
Ficedula hypoleuca
The European Pied Flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca, is a migratory bird with a wide distribution in northern Europe, central and eastern regions, where it nests. The birds that breed in Scandinavia and central Europe use the Western sectors of the Iberian Peninsula as areas of refueling during the migratory journey that will lead them to the wintering grounds in West Africa, especially in the Gulf of Guinea region. In Portugal, the species is observable throughout the country during the post-nuptial migration.
Despite its name, the European Pied Flycatcher displays its plumage with gray-brown tones on the back and head, whitish chest and abdomen, and features white spots on the wings. In Portugal, the white and black nuptial plumage can be appreciated during the pre-nuptial migration from April to early May, although the number of birds passing through the Iberian Peninsula in this period is significantly less than in the post-nuptial migration.