Red-breasted Flycatcher

  • Red-breasted Flycatcher (Male breeding plumage)
    Red-breasted Flycatcher (Male breeding plumage) (Mike Pope)
  • Red-breasted Flycatcher (Female)
    Red-breasted Flycatcher (Female) (Mike Pope)
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Male breeding plumage)
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Female)
Recordings 
Scientific Name 
Ficedula parva
Arabic Name 
خاطف الذباب أحمر الصدر
Kuwaiti name 
ذبابي
Family 
Chats - Old World Flycatchers
Length 
12.0 cm
Least Concern
Similar species 
European Robin

In Kuwait

Migrant
Rare
Non-breeder

Information

Scarce passage migrant, mainly in autumn. A very small flycatcher that spends a lot of time hunting insects near the ground or in low bushes. Usually found where there are thickets, plantations and orchards.
Where in Kuwait 
One of the best locations to see this diminutive species is Al Abraq, but it has also been recorded in Sulaibikhat Reserve. A good identification feature is the white patches on either side of the base of the tail which are very conspicuous when birds cock and spread their tails.
In the world 
It has an extremely large range and a population that is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats. It breeds in eastern Europe and across central Asia and is migratory, wintering mainly in Pakistan and north, west and central India, and irregularly in the southern Caspian region, Afghanistan, Sinai and the Arabian Peninsula. It spends the majority of its time off the ground in trees, and feeds primarily on insects.
Local threats 
Habitat loss and degradation