Fly-catcher, a genus of birds belonging to the order of passerines. The most remarkable species is the griffola, or spotted fly-catcher. It is a bird of passage, appears in the spring, breeds with us, and retires in August. It builds its nest on the sides of trees, towards the middle: Morton says, in the corners of walls where spiders weave their webs. Mr Pennant has seen them followed by four or five young, but never saw their eggs. When the young can fly, the old ones withdraw with them into thick woods, where they frolic among the top-branches; dropping from the boughs frequently quite perpendicular on the flies that sport beneath, and rise again in the same direction. It will also take its stand on the top of some stake or post, from whence it springs forth on its prey, returning still to the same stand for many times together. They feed also on cherries, of which they seem very fond.

The head is large, of a brownish hue spotted obscurely with black: the back of a mouse-colour: the wings and tail dusky; the interior edges of the quill-feathers edged with pale yellow: the breast and belly white; the shafts of the feathers on the former dusky; the throat and sides under the wings are dashed with red: the bill is very broad at the base, is ridged in the middle, and round the base are several short bristles: the inside of the mouth is yellow: the legs and feet are short and black.