Spotted Flycatchers in Norway
When the Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) is present in Norway, when it nests, and which native Norway plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Norway
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- June–July
- Size
- 14 cm, 16 g
- Nest box
- Open-fronted box
When to expect spotted flycatchers in Norway
The Spotted Flycatcher arrives in Norway in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Short summers with midnight sun in the north.
Mild maritime on the Gulf Stream coast, cold continental inland and Arctic in the north.
Nesting in Norway
In Norway the Spotted Flycatcher usually nests June–July. Nest site: ledges, climbers, open boxes. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days; chicks fledge after 12–16 days, and pairs raise 1–2 per year.
- Nest box: Open-fronted box. Put boxes up by February and clean them out between September and January.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native Norway plants for spotted flycatchers
Of the native plants we track for Norway, these 8 provide food the Spotted Flycatcher uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.
Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Berries and nest sites in its tangles; moths for insect-eaters.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Early-summer cherries for Blackbirds and Jays.
Windfalls sustain thrushes and Fieldfares into winter.
Feeding in the garden
Flying insects.
- Does not visit feeders — habitat and water are what bring it in.
- Uses open-fronted boxes against walls with climbers.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are spotted flycatchers in Norway all year?
No. The Spotted Flycatcher is a summer visitor to Norway, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn.
When do spotted flycatchers nest in Norway?
Typically June–July. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days, with 1–2 per year.
Which native plants help spotted flycatchers in Norway?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Wild cherry, Crab apple are native to Norway and provide food or cover the Spotted Flycatcher uses.
What nest box does the Spotted Flycatcher use?
Open-fronted box.
Spotted Flycatchers in other countries
Other garden birds in Norway
Sources
- Spotted Flycatcher — RSPB bird guide
- Spotted Flycatcher — BTO BirdFacts
- Norsk fugleatlas — BirdLife Norge
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.