Spotted Flycatchers in Portugal
When the Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) is present in Portugal, when it nests, and which native Portugal plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Portugal
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- April–July
- Size
- 14 cm, 16 g
- Nest box
- Open-fronted box
When to expect spotted flycatchers in Portugal
The Spotted Flycatcher arrives in Portugal in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Hot, dry summers inland; cooler on the coast.
Mediterranean with strong Atlantic influence, wetter in the north.
Nesting in Portugal
In Portugal the Spotted Flycatcher usually nests April–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 Portugal plants for spotted flycatchers
Of the native plants we track for Portugal, 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 Portugal all year?
No. The Spotted Flycatcher is a summer visitor to Portugal, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn.
When do spotted flycatchers nest in Portugal?
Typically April–July. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days, with 1–2 per year.
Which native plants help spotted flycatchers in Portugal?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Wild cherry, Crab apple are native to Portugal 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 Portugal
Sources
- Spotted Flycatcher — RSPB bird guide
- Spotted Flycatcher — BTO BirdFacts
- SPEA — Atlas das Aves Nidificantes
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.