What they like

Semi-open woodland and parkland. Old deciduous trees with cavities, plus a messy edge full of insects. In garden and yard: hang a nest box in a quiet spot, 2–4 metres high, with a clear flight path. Leave ivy and wild corners. Don’t mow everything at once.

Ecological importance

A fast insect-eater. Catches flies, mosquitoes, caterpillars and beetles in the air and from leaves. Good news for anywhere you want less buzzing and browsing damage, without spraying everything to death. It’s also on the menu for sparrowhawks and pine martens; so cover in the form of shrubs helps.

When in the Netherlands

Summer visitor. Usually from April through August/September. Breeds here, winters in Africa.

Status

Breeding bird, but not abundant. Numbers fluctuate and depend strongly on enough insects and nest sites. Help it by planting native shrubs such as hawthorn, blackthorn and hazel, and by just leaving leaves and branches where they lie.