A mainly winter visitor and passing migrant, especially in early spring (March) for Cyprus and the Akamas peninsula. It’s a very common and widespread species, preferring open areas with scattered trees and bushes.

It’s observed mostly singly or in pairs, at visible spots, particularly on tops of herbaceous plants, bushes and low trees. From these spots it scans and lies in waiting for its prey, which is mainly insects. It often returns to the same or adjacent spot after its attack. It’s fairly courageous, easily approached and often at very close range.

The male has a black head and throat, extending backwards into a lighter (dark brown with lighter spots) nape. Its wings are dark (almost black) with a faint white stripe. It has a prominent large white half collar, and an orange underbody. Its tail is black and the rump is usually cream with dark spots, sometimes less or almost white.

The female is more uniformly colored, with a light beige-brown head, light back with dark spots, rump and tail like the male’s. The throat is whitish and the rest of the lower part less bright orange.