The spotted flycatcher has declined 87% in the UK since 1967 — one of the steepest falls of any migratory bird. Aerial insect decline and pressures on the Sahel wintering grounds are the primary welfare concerns.
Spotted flycatcher welfare is threatened across its entire range. In the UK, aerial insect decline means adults cannot provision chicks at sufficient rates for normal development. Late arrivals in cold springs find insufficient large insects for efficient foraging. On migration across the Sahara, birds require stopover sites with adequate insect food — desertification reduces stopover quality. In the Sahel wintering grounds, habitat loss threatens the food security of overwintering birds. Unlike species that can switch diet, spotted flycatchers are obligate aerial insect specialists — there is no dietary fallback when insects are scarce.