The European Pied Flycatcher breeds in most of Europe into western and central Siberia and in north-west Africa. In winter all populations are believed to migrate to West and west Central Africa. See the distribution map at Birdlife International. It breeds in wood and forest habitats and requires cavities in trees in which to nest. This is unusual amongst flycatchers and it is thought that this might be in response to being targets of members of the cuckoo family.

Many authorities split the north-west African population as a species Atlas Flycatcher F. speculigera.