Red-breasted Flycatcher
Ficedula parva (Bechstein, 1794)
Muscicapa parva Bechstein, 1794: Reiser, 1894: 91; Patev, 1950: 93.
Order Passeriformes
Family Muscicapidae
Conservation status: in Bulgaria: Vulnerable VU A[3, c], BDA-II, III; International: BeC-II, BD-I.
General distribution. A Palearctic species, breeding in Eurasia (the taiga, Altai, the Caucasus Mountains, Asia Minor, Europe, the Balkan pepinsula).
Distribution and abundance in Bulgaria. A breeding summer visitor and passage migrant. At the end of the 70s of the 19th century it was found sporadically breeding in Northeastern Bulgaria (probably in the Ludogorie region and/or the Eastern Balkan range) [1], once in Kamchiyski Longoz gorge [2], and in two cases it was observed at the end of May [3; 4]. Since 1975 it has been breeding permanently in the Central Balkan range [5; 6; 7; 8], it also breeds in the Eastern and Western Balkan range [9] and in Strandzha mountain. The total numbers in the country are 700 – 1 000 pairs at an average density of 1 pair/50-100 ha; in the Central Balkan range there are 400-500 pairs.
Biology. Courting songs are registered from the middle of May to the beginning of July. Feeding the young ones is registered during the whole of July, and between 20 July and 10 August groups (families) are often observed; some pairs have a second clutch [5; 6; 8]. The nest is in a hollow in a tree or in a hole in a trunk or branch. The young ones, numbering 5 or 6, fly away on the 13th day [10]. The size of the breeding territories in the Central Balkan range varies, depending on the natural character of the forests, from 7-8 to 25-30 ha. On transects of 1.5 and 6 km, 4 pairs in each have been counted. It feeds on insects. It catches the prey in a short circling flight. It has been observed looking for food also on the ground [5]. Migrations take place in April-May and the end of August-October [3; 11].
Habitats. Mainly old beech forests with a natural structure and altitudes of 600 – 1 550 m [5; 6; 7; 8; 12]. In Strandzha mountain it breeds in a centuries-old forest of oak.
Similar species. The Robin (Erithacus rubecula).
Negative factors. Restoration and sanitary felling. Narrow specialization with respect to the habitats. It is located at the periphery of its area.
Conservation measures taken. The species and its habitats are protected according to the Biological Diversity Act. Declared as National Park is the Central Balkan mountain, the Cherniya Rat is declared a Protected Locality, and Balgarka and Strandzha are declared Natural Parks.
Conservation measures needed. Declaration of the Western Balkans as a Natural Park, declaration of protected territories and zones, mostly in the old beech and oak forests, not used so far, in the Balkan range and Sredna Gora mountain [13]. A moratorium on felling in the old forests in the Protected Territories.
References. 1. Radakoff, 1879; 2. Jordans, 1940; 3. Petrov, Zlatanov, 1955; 4. Donchev, 1974; 5. Spiridonov, 1981; 6. Spiridonov et al., 1983; 7. Spiridonov, Mileva, 1988; 8. Spiridonov, 1999; 9. Iankov, in press; 10. Makatsch, 1976; 11. Patev, 1950; 12. Hagemeijer, Blair, 1997; 13. Spiridonov, Raev, 2006.
Author: Geko Spiridonov
