The breeding male is strikingly black-and-white, showing a large white wing patch and a white spot on the forehead. Females and immatures are brown above but still display the prominent white wing patch. Where ranges overlap, it can be confused with the closely related Collared and Semicollared Flycatchers. It nests in shaded mixed and deciduous woodland, particularly areas rich in oaks. During migration and in winter it occupies a variety of habitats, from woodland edges and open forest to plantations. It feeds at different heights, often darting out to catch insects among the leaves, and sometimes perches in the open on fences. The song is a lively, whistled series with a rising and falling pattern, and typical calls include a sharp, metallic “wit!” and a brief “tsee.”