Bird Guide

European Stonechat vs Whinchat

European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)

European Stonechat

Saxicola rubicola

Tiny15 gShrubland

The stonechat is 11.5–13 cm (4.5–5.1 in) long and weighs 13–17 g (0.46–0.60 oz), slightly smaller than the European robin. Both sexes have distinctively short wings, shorter than those of the more migratory whinchat and Siberian stonechat. The summer male has black upperparts, a black head, an orange throat and breast, and a white belly and vent. It also has a white half-collar on the sides of its neck, a small white scapular patch on the wings, and a very small white patch on the rump often streaked with black.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the European Stonechat
Recorded by Sonothèque ADVL · Aberrant, call, song · Genêts, Manche, Normandie, France · CC0
Photo: Hobbyfotowiki · CC0
Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra)

Whinchat

Saxicola rubetra

Small17 gShrubland

The whinchat is a short-tailed bird, moving on the ground with small, rapid hops and frequently bobbing and flicking its wings and tail. It is similar in size to its relative the European robin (Erithacus rubecula), being 12 to 14 cm (4.7 to 5.5 in) long and weighing 13 to 26 g (0.46 to 0.92 oz). Both sexes have brownish upperparts mottled darker, a buff throat and breast, a pale buff to whitish belly, and a blackish tail with white bases to the outer tail feathers.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Whinchat
Recorded by Noé Ferrari · Song · Arrondissement d'Abbeville (near Boismont), Somme, Hauts-de-France, France · CC BY 4.0
Photo: (c) Mourad Harzallah, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mourad Harzallah · cc-by

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: European Stonechat and Whinchat.