Flycatchers
Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually.
Adult male and female Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin look alike and measure about 15 cm long with relatively long legs and a large rounded tail. The upper parts are a rich brownish chestnut, with the rump and uppertail coverts rather more rufous. There is a distinct curved, creamy-white broad streak from the nostrils to behind the eye and a dark brown line through the eye. The under-eye area is whitish and the ear coverts pale brown. The eye and the beak are both brown but the lower mandible of the beak has a greyish base. The underparts are buffish white, with the chin, central belly and undertail coverts paler than the other parts. The feathers of the wing are dark brown, fringed on the leading edge with buff and on the trailing edge with pale chestnut-brown and with the secondaries tipped with white. The central pair of feathers on the tail are bright rufous-chestnut with narrow black tips and the rest a similar colour with white tips and adjacent broad black bands. The legs and feet are pale brown. Juveniles are similar in appearance but generally a paler sandy-brown colour.
Diet
It feeds mainly on the ground on insects such as beetles, grasshoppers and the larvae of butterflies and moths, and on earthworms, turning over the leaf litter to find its prey.
Longevity record
7 years
Usually seen in
April - May
Occasionally seen in
October - December
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
15 - 17
20 - 27
European Robin
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually but can be seen fighting for territory.
Rufous red face, throat and chest, framed in slate grey in adults of both sexes. Olive brown to grey upperparts and dull white underparts. Head rather large, and body rather stocky when plumage puffed, despite thin bill and slender legs. Juveniles lack the red front and are heavily spotted in buff on a dark brown body with barred chest. Adults pretty unmistakable when seen well. Flight usually low and darting, with quick changes of directions before disappearing in thick bushes. Posture usually erect with frequent flicking of tail and wings.
Diet
European robins are insectivorous and eat a wide range of insects, including spiders. Worms are also part of their diet, and in autumn and winter, these birds will eat more fruit and berries when insects are difficult to find.
Longevity record
19 years 4 months (Found dead in the Chech Republic, Z 364896)
Usually seen in
September - March
Occasionally seen in
all other months
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
12.5 - 14
13 - 21
Common Nightingale
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually.
Anonymous, indistinct plumage and secretive behaviour makes it an easily overlooked bird (except when singing). Tail rufous brown, upperparts warm brown. Underparts buff and white. Throat without streaking. Tail more rufous, and contrasts less with the warm brown back, than in Thrush Nightingale. Overall a more smooth and clean appearance. Behaviour with jumping gait, erect posture, raised tail and drooping wings.
Diet
Nightingales feed mainly on insects, mainly through foraging on the ground, and in particular are partial to ants and beetles.
Longevity record
10 years 11 months (Spain, 2498771)
Usually seen in
March - May, August - October
Occasionally seen in
June, November
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Length (cm):
Weight (g):
15 - 16.5
18 - 27
Bluethroat
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually.
Male unmistakable. Blue throat with rufous red or white center (both sub-species occur in Malta), white supercilium and rufous base of outer tail feathers. Female lacking, or having just a partially blue throat. Female and juveniles could be confused with Redstart because of the rufous tail, but note its dark, bold trailing edge and center. An elegant and fairly long-legged chat that often flicks its wings and cocks its tail.
The Bluethroat with a white chest spot is usually seen only in Spring, whereas the Red-spotted Bluethroat can be seen in both Autumn and Spring.
Diet
Primarily invertebrates, mainly insects, with some seeds and fruit.
Longevity record
11 years 5 months (Spain, N 0074112)
Rożinjol Ikħal
Luscinia svecica
Passeriformes
Muscicapidae
Rare
Usually seen in
March - April, October - November
Occasionally seen in
January, February, May, September
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Svecica (N. Europe) sub-species due to the rusty patch just being seen on the top part of the blue throat. Eventually once the birds moults into its full plumage, the rusty spot will be in the middle of its blueish throat.
Svecica (N. Europe) sub-species due to the rusty patch just being seen on the top part of the blue throat. Eventually once the birds moults into its full plumage, the rusty spot will be in the middle of its blueish throat.
Svecica (N. Europe) sub-species due to the rusty patch just being seen on the top part of the blue throat. Eventually once the birds moults into its full plumage, the rusty spot will be in the middle of its blueish throat.
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
13 - 14
15 - 21
Western Black Redstart
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually or multiple individuals fighting over territory or within the same area.
Male: Charcoal to black plumage, with rufous red tail, pale belly and pale wing-panel (south-eastern subspecies with rufous belly and no wing-panel). Female: Grey brown overall, except rufous tail. Lacks the orange tinge to breast and belly of female Common Redstart. Juveniles resembles the adult female, and lacks the buff speckles of congeners. May jump around on the ground like Common Redstart, but are more prone to run. Also shows a more erect posture.
Diet
Black Redstart feeds mainly on invertebrates such as grasshoppers, bugs, lepidopteran insects, flies, ants, bees, wasps, beetles, spiders, small molluscs and earth worms. It also feeds on berries, fruits and seeds.
Longevity record
10 years 2 months (Killed in the Netherlands, S 128312)
Kudirross Iswed / Fjammu Iswed / Ta' Denbu Aħmar
Phoenicurus ochruros gibraltariensis
Passeriformes
Muscicapidae
Fairly common
Usually seen in
October - March
Occasionally seen in
April
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
13 - 14.5
12 - 20
Common Redstart
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually or multiple individuals fighting over territory or within the same area.
Rufous tail with dark brown center in all plumages. Most noticeable in flight when tail is spread. Male unmistakable with black face and throat, white band across forehead, orange-red breast and grey back. Female relatively featureless, except for the characteristic rufous tail. Other characters are brown-grey upperparts, pale eye-ring, and orange tinge to breast. Erect posture with frequent tail flicking.
Diet
The Common Redstart feeds mainly on invertebrates such as grasshoppers, bugs, lepidopteran insects, flies, ants, bees, wasps, beetles, spiders, small molluscs and earth worms. It also feeds on berries, fruits and seeds.
Longevity record
10 years 3 months (Killed in Denmark, 9H 40474)
Kudirross / Fjammu / Ta' Denbu Aħmar
Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Passeriformes
Muscicapidae
Fairly common
Usually seen in
March - May, August - November
Occasionally seen in
June, December
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
13 - 14.5
12 - 18
Moussier's Redstart
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually.
It is an endemic resident breeder in the Atlas Mountains of northwest Africa. Its habitat is open woodland in rocky areas from sea level up to 3000 m altitude in the mountains.
The male has a black head with a broad white stripe running above each eye and down the side of the neck. The upperparts are black other than a white wing patch, and the rich chestnut tail, from which it and other redstarts get their names ('start' is an old word for 'tail'). The underparts are a rich orange-red. The female has a pale brown head and upperparts, and the underparts are a paler orange than the male, although generally redder than the underparts of the similar but larger female Common Redstart
Diet
This Redstart feeds mainly on invertebrates such as grasshoppers, bugs, lepidopteran insects, flies, ants, bees, wasps, beetles, spiders, small molluscs and earth worms. It also feeds on berries, fruits and seeds.
Longevity record
-
Usually seen in
-
Occasionally seen in
February - April, October - December
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Length (cm):
Weight (g):
12 - 13
12 - 15
Whinchat
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually but multiple birds can be seen in the same area.
An erect posture and large head. Distinct white or buff supercilium in all plumages. Base of primaries shiny white in adults, especially adult male. Coarsely spotted buff rump. Base of tail with white triangular patches. Juveniles with white speckles on upperparts and whitish throat. Lacks the white base of primaries, but supercilium bold.
Diet
Whinchats are insectivorous, feeding largely (about 80–90%) on insects, but also consume a wide range of other invertebrates including spiders, small snails and worms. They also eat small amounts of fruit such as blackberries, primarily in autumn.
Longevity record
6 years 11 months (Czech Republic, T 389922)
Buċaqq tas-Silla / Buċaqċaq
Saxicola rubetra
Passeriformes
Muscicapidae
Fairly common
Usually seen in
March - May, August - October
Occasionally seen in
February, November - December
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
12 - 14
14 - 18
European Stonechat
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually but multiple birds can be seen in the same area.
Quite similar to Whinchat all plumages lack the strong pale supercilium. Male easily identified by its mainly black and white plumage, black throat and white half-collar. Other plumages seem much more evenly coloured than the Whinchat's, with its more pronounced streaking. Adult females also with diffuse black throat, but this becomes paler as the plumage is worn. All plumages show white patch at base of wing in flight. Rump usually streaked, but sometimes has a white center, or can even be completely white. Juveniles like female, but with streaked underparts. Always restlessly on the move with frequent dipping of tail.
Diet
Almost entirely invertebrates, mainly small or medium-sized insects and their larvae; occasionally small vertebrates, seeds and fruit.
Longevity record
8 years 10 months (Germany, 9X 36806)
Buċaqq tax-Xitwa / Buċaqċaq
Saxicola rubicola
Passeriformes
Muscicapidae
Fairly common
Usually seen in
September - April
Occasionally seen in
-
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
11.5 - 13
13 - 17
Northern Wheatear
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually but multiple birds can be seen in the same area.
Epitome of wheatears. Male with grey back, white supercilium, black mask and dark wings. Females have less contrast, are more brownish than grey, the supercilium is fainter and the black mask is missing. Rump white and tail white with black "T" in all plumages. The black in the middle tail-feathers is always at least as long as the width of the black terminal tail-band. Pale individuals can be mistaken for Isabelline Wheatear, but note that the supercilium is buff between eye and base of bill.
Diet
It feeds on adults and larvae of numerous insects' species, large insects, spiders, small snails and earthworms. In autumn, it feeds on berries from several plant species. The Northern Wheatear has similar diet on the wintering grounds where it is often attracted by burnt areas with ants and termites.
Longevity record
10 years 1 months (Sweden, 1EE42448)
Kuda
Oenanthe oenanthe
Passeriformes
Muscicapidae
Fairly common
Usually seen in
March - May, August - November
Occasionally seen in
February, June
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Length (cm):
Weight (g):
14 - 16.5
19 - 29
Isabelline Wheatear
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually.
Male and female isabelline wheatear are similar in appearance. The upper-parts are a pale sandy brown with an isabelline tinge (isabelline is a pale grey-yellow, fawn, cream-brown or parchment colour). The lower back is isabelline and the rump and upper tail-coverts are white. The tail feathers are brownish-black with a narrow edge and tip of buff and a large white base. In the outer tail feathers this occupies more than half the length of the feather but in the central feathers it is about one third. There is an over-eye streak of creamy white and the ear-coverts are pale brown. The chin is pale cream and the throat pale buff. The breast is sandy or isabelline buff and the belly creamy white. The under tail-coverts are pale buff and the under wing-coverts and axilliaries white with dark bases. The wing feathers are brownish-black, tipped and edged with creamy buff. The beak, legs and feet are black and the irises are brown.
Diet
Its diet includes ants, grasshoppers, moths, flies, mites, spiders and insect larvae, and it sometimes eats seeds as well. Isabelline Wheatears are solitary birds in their winter quarters and may associate with other Oenanthe species during migration.
Longevity record
-
Usually seen in
March - April
Occasionally seen in
May, October - November
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Length (cm):
Weight (g):
15 - 16.5
25 - 35
Desert Wheatear
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually.
The head and nape of the adult male Desert Wheatear are a pale sandy-grey colour with the feathers tipped grey. The mantle, scapulars and back are a similar but rather richer colour. The rump and upper tail-coverts are pale buff. The basal third of the tail feathers are white and the rest black with a pale buff tip. A curved stripe over the eye is pale buff and extends backwards. The feathers of the chin, throat, lores and ear-coverts are black tipped with white. The breast and flanks are sandy-buff and the belly and under tail-coverts are creamy-white tinged with buff. The axillaries and under wing-coverts are black tipped with white. The primaries have black outer webs, tipped and edged with white and inner webs pale brown edged with white. The secondaries are similar but have broader white edges to both webs.
The female has similar plumage but the rump and upper tail-coverts are more sandy brown, the lores, chin and throat pale buff and the dark parts of the tail brownish-black.
Diet
Its diet includes ants, grasshoppers, moths, flies, mites, spiders and insect larvae, and it sometimes eats seeds as well.
Longevity record
-
Usually seen in
March, October - November
Occasionally seen in
April, December
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
14.5 - 15.5
21 - 27
Western Black-eared Wheatear
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually.
The breeding male has the forehead and crown white or nearly white, the mantle buff, and the wings blacker than those of the Northern Wheatear. The underparts are white tinged with buff. The back, upper tail coverts and most of the tail are white. A black mask extends from the ear coverts to the bill. The throat can be either black (black-throated) or white (pale-throated). In autumn and winter the head and mantle are distinctly buff, as are the underparts (including the throat in pale-throated individuals), but the buff varies in intensity. Except for the central pair, the tail feathers are much whiter than in the Northern Wheatear, the white on the inner web often extending to the tip.
The female is a browner bird, but has the characteristic white lower back, and her seasonal changes are less marked.
The male Western Black-eared Wheatear can be distinguished from the male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear by its more buff-tinged upperparts, giving it a less distinctly black-and-white appearance than the latter species, as well as having the black of the mask stopping at the base of the bill rather than extending slightly above. Also the black mask of the Eastern type goes above the eye whilst that of the Western does not or is very slightly surpassed. Black-throated individuals of this species have less black on the throat and face than on the eastern birds, and the black generally terminates less abruptly. Females of this species differ from their eastern counterparts in being warmer brown overall.
Diet
Its diet includes ants, grasshoppers, moths, flies, mites, spiders and insect larvae, and it sometimes eats seeds as well.
Longevity record
10 years
Usually seen in
April
Occasionally seen in
March, May
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
13.5 - 15.5
15 - 22
Eastern Black-eared Wheatear
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually but multiple individuals can be seen within the same area.
The breeding male has the forehead, crown, and mantle white or nearly white with a buff tinge, and the wings blacker than those of the Northern Wheatear. The underparts are white tinged with buff. The back, upper tail coverts and most of the tail are white. A black mask extends from the ear coverts to the bill. The throat can be either black or white. The female is a more gray-brown bird, but has the characteristic white lower back, and her seasonal changes are less marked.
The male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear can be distinguished from the male Western Black-eared Wheatear by its whiter, less buff-tinted upperparts than the latter species, giving it a more distinctly black-and-white appearance, as well as by having the black of the mask reaching just above the base of the bill. Black-throated individuals of this species have a greater amount of black on the throat and face than on the western birds, and the black generally terminates more abruptly or in a straighter line. Females of this species differ from their western counterparts in being overall colder-colored and duller.
It is found breeding in the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Europe to the Caspian Sea and Iran and migrates to winter quarters in the Sudan.
Diet
Its diet includes ants, grasshoppers, moths, flies, mites, spiders and insect larvae, and it sometimes eats seeds as well.
Longevity record
10 years
Kuda Dumnikana
Oenanthe melanoleuca
Passeriformes
Muscicapidae
Fairly common
Usually seen in
March - May
Occasionally seen in
June, August - October
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
13.5 - 15.5
15 - 22
White-crowned Wheatear
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Large and powerful for a wheatear with glossy black plumage; found in rocky deserts. Only adults have a white cap. Sexes similar. In all plumages lacks a black terminal tail band; its mostly white tail separates it from other similar black wheatears. Inhabits rocky slopes and steep desert wadis. The male sings a clear series of whistles and trills; often given during a display flight.
Diet
Its diet includes ants, grasshoppers, moths, flies, mites, spiders and insect larvae, and it sometimes eats seeds as well.
Longevity record
n/a
Usually seen in
---
Occasionally seen in
March - April
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
13.5 - 15.5
23 - 32
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually.
A small and elegant flycatcher with deep chest, slender vent and fairly long tail. Head rounded and bill thin. Best field mark is the dark tail with white edges at the base (Wheatear-like) shown in all plumages. Often flirts tail, showing the diagnostic markings. Male recognized by Robin-like throat-patch and slate grey head. The red is restricted to the upper throat, and does not extend to the cheeks like in Robin. Very acrobatic flight when hunting. More pronounced flicking of tail than in other flycatchers, with tail sometimes even pointing forward over back, before being let down slowly.
Diet
The Red-breasted Flycatcher feeds primarily on insects of several species, and also takes worms, snails and woodlice
Longevity record
10 years
Usually seen in
October
Occasionally seen in
April - May, September, December
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
11 - 12
10 - 12
Spotted Flycatcher
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually but are seen in good quantities within the same area. Seen in pairs in Spring and Summer and some reside and breed.
Easily overlooked bird with greyish brown upperparts and pale underparts. Crown and chest speckled. Bill and legs black. Slim white fringes to flight feathers and greater coverts. Body, wings and bill longer than in Pied Flycatcher, leaving a more elongated impression. Erect posture. Behaviour similar to congeners, with rapid darts and frequent hovering when hunting insects. Flicks tail and wings while perched.
Diet
The Spotted Flycatcher feeds primarily on flying insects of several species, and also spiders, snails and earthworms, and some small fruits and berries. It hunts by performing sallies from perch, at 1-2 metres above the ground. It catches the prey while flying, and returns to the perch to eat the insect.
Longevity record
11 years (Killed by a cat in Finland, J-978561)
Usually seen in
March - May, August - November
Occasionally seen in
all other months for resident birds
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
13.5 - 15
13 - 19
Semi-collared Flycatcher
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually.
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 caterpillars 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 Semi-collared may show a white second wing bar, but many individuals are not separable in the field.
Diet
t mainly takes insects in flight, rarely hunting caterpillars amongst the tree foliage like pied flycatcher
Longevity record
9 years
Usually seen in
March - April
Occasionally seen in
May, September
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
12 - 13.5
10 - 17
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Collared Flycatcher
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually but are seen in multiple numbers within the same area.
The breeding male is mainly black above and white below, with a white collar, large white wing patch, black tail (although some males have white tail sides) and a large white forehead patch. It has a pale rump. The bill is black and has the broad but pointed shape typical of aerial insectivores.
Non-breeding males, females and juveniles have the black replaced by a pale brown, and may be very difficult to distinguish from other Ficedula flycatchers, particularly the European Pied Flycatcher and the Semi-collared Flycatcher, with which this species hybridizes to a limited extent.
Diet
As well as taking insects in flight, this species hunts caterpillars amongst the foliage, and will take berries.
Longevity record
9 years 10 months (Hungary, T 06103)
Żanżarell tal-Kullar / Għasfur tal-Gamiem
Ficedula albicollis
Passeriformes
Muscicapidae
Fairly common
Usually seen in
April - May
Occasionally seen in
March, June, August - October
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
12 - 13.5
10 - 17
European Pied Flycatcher
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
Usually seen individually but are seen in multiple numbers within the same area.
Male with shiny black upperparts and pure white underparts. Female grey-brown with pale underparts. Both sexes with broad white edges to tertials and greater coverts, forming a broad white patch (largest in males). Fairly compact body compared to Spotted Flycatcher, with shorter tail and bill. Easily confused with Collared and Semi-collared Flycatcher where these occur. Both sexes differs from Semi-collared in no white edges to end of tail and less white at base. Distinguished from Collared in white patch beneath alula being narrow and not reaching edge of wing (both sexes), white base of tail (black in Collared males) and no collar (males).
Diet
As well as taking insects in flight, this species hunts caterpillars amongst the oak foliage, and will take berries
Longevity record
10 years 11 months (A shot bird in Finland, J-574662)
Usually seen in
April - May
Occasionally seen in
March, June, August - November
Click on the image to open slideshow
Length (cm):
Weight (g):
12 - 13.5
10 - 17
*Some information was sourced from ''BirdID Nord University''.