Key information
The whinchat is a small perching bird. It hops or runs on the ground and often perches on top of low bushes. It has a prominent white stripe above the eye. It is streaky brown above and warm orange-buff on the breast.
The whinchat is a summer visitor and passage migrant. Birds breed in upland areas of northern and western Britain with a few in Ireland. It winters in central and southern Africa. Whinchat numbers in Britain more than halved between 1995 and 2008, the cause(s) being unknown.
What they eat:
Insects and some seeds.
Measurements:
- Length:
- 12.5 cm
- Wingspan:
- 21-24 cm
- Weight:
- 16-24 g
Population:
- UK breeding:
- 47,000 pairs
Identifying features:
This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season.
Whinchat (male)
Whinchat (female)
