Page 305 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

CHATS AND THRUSHES
Order Passeriformes Family Turdidae Species Saxicola rubetra
Whinchat bold pale stripe dark cap
over eye
almost black black streaks
cheeks,
FEMALE edged on pale straw-
(SPRING) brown back
white
deep apricot
breast
pale
pale yellowish throat
white underside
triangle
on each
side of tail
IN FLIGHT MALE
(SPRING) MALE
buff stripe (AUTUMN)
over eye buff stripe
over eye
streaked
cap and
cheeks
yellow-buff
underside
IMMATURE (1ST WINTER) FEMALE (SPRING)
eclining in much of its range as its preferred habitats are altered,
Dthe Whinchat is a bird of grassland with tall, woody stems or FLIGHT: short, low, flitting, quite quick, usually on
small bushes which give it an open perch quite close to the ground. to isolated, slender upright stem or fence.
Young conifer plantations serve it well for a few
years but “rough”, uncultivated ground is often SPRING PERFECTION
A male in spring is a superbly
not tolerated in agricultural or suburban areas patterned, crisply coloured bird.
and so the Whinchat is squeezed out. It is a
summer visitor to Europe, unlike the similar
but resident Stonechat.
VOICE Loud, short, tictic or tuc-tuc-tuc, wheet or
wheet-tuk;song varied,at best Robin-like but with
clicks, rattles, and grating notes mixed in.
NESTING Grassy nest low in tussock,bush,or
ground; 5 or 6 eggs; 1 or 2 broods; May–July.
FEEDING Watches from perch and drops to
ground to pick up insects and worms; also feeds
on some seeds and berries.
OCCURRENCE
SIMILAR SPECIES Present from April to September
in open places with heather, grass,
WHEATEAR 32; SEDGE WARBLER 32 no pale stripe scattered taller stems, or young
see p.300 similar to 2; over eye
see p.322 trees. Widespread but increasingly
larger scarce and localized; absent from
dark Iceland. Migrants typically rest
throat
near coasts in open grassy or
marshy places.
more plain tail STONECHAT 32; Seen in the UK
white on tail see p.304 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 12.5cm (5in) Wingspan 21–24cm (8 1 ⁄2 –9 1 ⁄2in) Weight 16–24g ( 9 ⁄16 – 7 ⁄8oz)
Social Family groups Lifespan Up to 5 years Status Secure
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