Christopher Taylor Bird Nature Wildlife Mammal Photography
nature photography
GALLERIES > BIRDS > MUSCICAPOIDEA > MUSCICAPIDAE > WHINCHAT [Saxicola rubetra]



Whinchat Photo @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Angarnssjöängens NR, Stockholms län, Sweden
GPS: 59.5N, 18.2E, elev=59' MAP
Date: May 25, 2023
ID : B13K3941 [4896 x 3264]

nature photography

SPECIES INFO

The Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra, is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae. It, and similar small European species, are often called chats.

It is a migratory insectivorous species breeding in open rough pasture or similar uncultivated grassland in Europe and Asia. It nests in tussocks. All birds winter in Africa.

The Whinchat is similar in size to the European Robin. Both sexes have a yellowish rump and white tail, with a black terminal band. The summer male has brownish upperparts, buff throat and blackish head sides. It has a strong white supercilium. There are white wing patches.

The female has pale brown head sides, a buff supercilium and no white wing patches.

The male has a whistling, crackly song. Its call is a typical chat "chack"? noise or a soft whistle.

Bracken is a preferred habitat for this species.

This species represents a fairly basal divergence of the genus Saxicola (Wink et al. 2002).

A drawing of whinchats on a flower.





HOME · ABOUT ME · GALLERY · STOCKLIST · VIDEO · SEARCH · PRESS · CONTACT · BLOG · NEW STUFF
bird photography
All images and video © Copyright 2006-2024 Christopher Taylor, Content and maps by their respective owner. All rights reserved.
nature photography