Whinchat
Saxicola rubetra
The Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) is a common chats, old world flycatchers, and alli found in 110 countries, weighing about 17 g. The whinchat is a small migratory passerine bird breeding in Europe and western Asia and wintering in central Africa.
About the Whinchat
The whinchat is a small migratory passerine bird breeding in Europe and western Asia and wintering in central Africa. At one time considered to be in the thrush family, Turdidae, it is now placed in the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae. Both sexes have a strong supercilium, brownish upper parts mottled darker, a pale throat and breast, a pale buff to whitish belly, and a blackish tail with white bases to the outer tail feathers, but in the breeding season, the male has an orange-buff throat and breast.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
What the Whinchat sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in India, Japan, Sudan, São Tomé & Príncipe, Somalia.
When to see it
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, with peak activity in May. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Whinchat?
- The whinchat is a short-tailed bird, moving on the ground with small, rapid hops and frequently bobbing and flicking its wings and tail. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Whinchat?
- The Whinchat is a small sized bird weighing about 17 g.
- Where can you see a Whinchat?
- The Whinchat occurs in 110 countries, including Sweden, Norway, Finland, France and the United Kingdom.
- What does a Whinchat sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Whinchat on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Whinchat?
- The Whinchat is most easily confused with the Pied Bush Chat, the African Stonechat and the European Stonechat.
- Is the Whinchat endangered?
- The Whinchat is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Whinchat for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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