Courtship
Red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva)
From the cycle - Birds of Europe. You can see more my photos from this cycle by entering "Pawel's Birds of Europe" in the search box.
The red-breasted flycatcher is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family. It breeds in eastern Europe and across Central Asia and is migratory, wintering in south Asia. It is a regular passage migrant in western Europe.
As well as taking insects in flight, this species hunts caterpillars amongst the oak foliage, and will take berries.
The red-breasted flycatcher is territorial during the breeding season. It often flicks the wings and cocks the tail. This behaviour is used between mates as contact, and during aggressive displays.
This species is monogamous and solitary nester. The male is very active when attracting a female. When she approaches a singing male, it stops the song and utters short rattle calls while flicking both wings and tail. It also chases the female.
Later, the male flies to various nest-sites while singing loudly, entering each tree hole and making song flights. These displays end when the female follows the male into a hole. But if she leaves the hole first, the male has been rejected.
During the incubation period, the male accompanies and guards the female to protect her against other males. It also feeds her to maintain and strengthen the pair-bond.
In the photo, the female greets the arriving male.
Courtship
Red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva)
From the cycle - Birds of Europe. You can see more my photos from this cycle by entering "Pawel's Birds of Europe" in the search box.
The red-breasted flycatcher is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family. It breeds in eastern Europe and across Central Asia and is migratory, wintering in south Asia. It is a regular passage migrant in western Europe.
As well as taking insects in flight, this species hunts caterpillars amongst the oak foliage, and will take berries.
The red-breasted flycatcher is territorial during the breeding season. It often flicks the wings and cocks the tail. This behaviour is used between mates as contact, and during aggressive displays.
This species is monogamous and solitary nester. The male is very active when attracting a female. When she approaches a singing male, it stops the song and utters short rattle calls while flicking both wings and tail. It also chases the female.
Later, the male flies to various nest-sites while singing loudly, entering each tree hole and making song flights. These displays end when the female follows the male into a hole. But if she leaves the hole first, the male has been rejected.
During the incubation period, the male accompanies and guards the female to protect her against other males. It also feeds her to maintain and strengthen the pair-bond.
In the photo, the female greets the arriving male.