Collared Flycatcher in Wildpark Potsdam

HalsbandschnäpperAnyone strolling through the Potsdam Wildlife Park these days might notice an unusual song: clear, persistent, and from a considerable height – often from the upper branches of a bare beech tree. The songster? Not an ordinary forest bird, but a rare visitor: the Collared Flycatcher.

The Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) is considered a rare breeding bird in Germany, with a distribution center in southeastern Europe and the far east of central Europe. The male is easily distinguished from related species by its white neck ring, black plumage, and white wing markings. Particularly striking is its persistent, varied song, which it prefers to sing from the upper canopy of deciduous trees.

The Collared Flycatcher originally breeds in warm deciduous forests with a dense population of old trees, especially beech and oak forests. It prefers structurally rich habitats with sufficient nesting caves. Typical breeding areas include Hungary, the Czech Republic, and southeastern Austria. As recently as the 20th century, the northern limit of its distribution was far from Brandenburg.

However, in recent decades, a northwestward expansion of the Collared Flycatcher has been observed. This could be due to climatic changes and targeted conservation measures for cavity-nesting species. There have been isolated sightings in Brandenburg since the 1990s, but the current appearance in Potsdam Wildlife Park represents a minor ornithological sensation. It is unclear whether this is a migrating male or whether a new, northern breeding population is establishing itself here.

The Collared Flycatcher’s song—persistent, melodious, and from high above—serves to mark territory and attract a female. The fact that it chose a bare beech tree as its perch in Potsdam is in keeping with its typical behavior. Such trees offer unobstructed views and good acoustics, important factors in mate searches.

The appearance of the Collared Flycatcher in the Potsdam Wildlife Park raises intriguing questions: Is this a harbinger of further range expansion? Or an isolated single sighting? For bird lovers and ornithologists, one thing is clear: anyone visiting the wildlife park should keep their ears open. The chance of hearing this rare songbird live is currently higher than ever before.

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