THE SPOTTED FLYCATCHER 



MUSC1CAPA GR1SOLA 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties : " Wall-bird " 

 (Essex). 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : A summer visitor to all 

 suitable localities. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 

 PAUL'S : Although so closely associated with the country, 

 the Spotted Flycatcher is a regular and fairly common 

 summer visitor to many spots even in the central districts 

 of the Metropolitan area. I have seen this species in St. 

 James's Park, and it may possibly breed in the grounds 

 of Buckingham Palace. It nests regularly in Hyde Park 

 and Kensington Gardens in Rotten Row in the former 

 and near the Tea Pavilion in the latter and I have also 

 records from Regent's Park during the breeding season. 

 I am not aware of its breeding in Battersea Park, although 

 it may very possibly do so, but it nests regularly at 

 Dulwich, Tooting, and Balham. In the western and 

 northern suburbs Barnes, Chiswick, Dollis Hill, Hamp- 

 stead, and Highgate may be mentioned. In the more 

 rural suburbs the bird of course becomes commoner, 

 and I can include Tooting, Wimbledon, Richmond, Kew, 

 Osterley, Hanwell, Acton, Ealing, Horsenden, Twyford, 

 Wembley, Kingsbury, Finchley, Hendon, Barnet, Enfield, 

 Epping, Wanstead, Ilford, Greenwich, Dartford, Bromley, 

 Croydon, Mitcham, Merton, and Kingston as regular 

 haunts. Beyond these limits it becomes unnecessary to 

 specify. 



A stroll in Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens during 

 the summer will be sufficient to make the acquaintance 

 of this sombre little bird. It is a late migrant, not reach- 

 ing its English haunts before the first week in May, leav- 

 ing them again in September. The Spotted Flycatcher 

 186 



