Lesser Whitethroat
Least ConcernCurruca curruca
Visual Identification
Appearance
The Lesser Whitethroat is a small, slender warbler with a distinctive grey head and white throat. Its upperparts are greyish-brown, contrasting with paler underparts. The wings are dark with lighter edges, and it has a long tail. In some birds, a lighter eye stripe is faintly visible.
Males and females look similar, with juveniles showing a slightly browner plumage. Their appearance has little seasonal variation, maintaining a consistent look year-round.
Size
Length
11cm to 12.5cm
Wingspan
17cm to 21cm
Weight
9g to 14g
Colours
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Grey Brown
Secondary Colour
White
Beak Colour
Black
Leg Colour
Grey
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
Lesser Whitethroats breed across much of Europe and western Asia, favouring open woodland, scrubland, and hedgerows. They prefer areas with dense undergrowth for nesting and foraging.
In the UK, they are summer visitors, arriving in April and departing by September. During winter, they migrate to sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Indian subcontinent, utilising a variety of habitats en route.
Elevation Range
Up to 2,350 meters
Climate zones
Temperate, Subtropical
Distribution Map
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Lesser Whitethroat. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
- Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
- This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations
We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:
- More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
- How birds move around during different seasons
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
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Share your thoughtsBird Attributes Explained
Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.
Attribute Categories:
- Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
- Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
- Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
- Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
- Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
Understanding the Ratings:
- 0-20: Very Low
- 21-40: Low
- 41-60: Average
- 61-80: High
- 81-100: Very High
Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Agility
Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
The Lesser Whitethroat displays remarkable agility, with quick and nimble movements through dense vegetation. Their ability to dart swiftly between branches whilst foraging and their adept flying skills during long-distance migrations demonstrate high agility.
Strength
Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
As a small warbler, the Lesser Whitethroat possesses limited strength. Their size (11-12.5 cm length, 9-14 g weight) suggests they are not particularly strong compared to larger bird species, though they are adequately strong for their ecological niche.
Adaptability
Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Lesser Whitethroats show good adaptability, thriving in various habitats from open woodland to scrubland and hedgerows. Their ability to adjust their diet seasonally and navigate long-distance migrations indicates considerable adaptability to changing environments.
Aggressiveness
Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Whilst Lesser Whitethroats defend their territories during breeding season, they are not notably aggressive birds. Their solitary nature outside breeding season and lack of reported aggressive behaviours suggest a moderate to low aggression level.
Endurance
Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
The Lesser Whitethroat demonstrates impressive endurance, particularly evident in their long-distance migrations of up to 5000 km annually. This journey, coupled with their ability to survive in diverse climates from temperate Europe to sub-Saharan Africa, indicates high endurance.
Diet
Lesser Whitethroats primarily feed on insects and their larvae, including caterpillars, beetles, and flies. They forage by gleaning prey from leaves and branches, occasionally hovering to catch insects in flight. In autumn, they supplement their diet with small berries and fruits.
Behaviour
Lesser Whitethroats are known for their quick, agile movements as they forage through dense vegetation. They often feed low in bushes or trees, darting from branch to branch.
These birds are generally solitary or seen in pairs during the breeding season, becoming more gregarious during migration.
Vocalisation
The Lesser Whitethroat's song is a distinctive, rapid rattle often described as a 'mechanical trill'. It sounds like a fast 'tut-tut-tut-tut-tut'. Their call is a sharp, hard 'teck' or 'chack'.
During the breeding season, males sing persistently from exposed perches to defend territory and attract mates.
Nesting & Breeding
Lesser Whitethroats form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, typically from May to July. Males establish territories and attract females with their distinctive song.
The nest is a small, neat cup made of grass, plant stems, and spider webs, usually well-hidden in dense vegetation. Females lay 4-5 eggs, which are white or pale grey with dark speckles.
Both parents incubate the eggs for about 11-12 days. The chicks fledge after 10-12 days but remain dependent on their parents for another two weeks.
Lifespan
years
The Lesser Whitethroat typically lives for 2 to 5 years.
Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
The Lesser Whitethroat is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, like many migratory birds, it faces threats from habitat loss along its migration routes and in its wintering grounds. Climate change may also affect its breeding success and migration patterns in the future.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for quick movements in dense shrubs and low trees
- Listen for their distinctive rattling call, often given from cover
- In the UK, watch for them in hedgerows and scrubland from April to September
- Observe their feeding behaviour, often gleaning insects from leaves
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Other names:
Sylvia curruca
Family:
SylviidaePredators
Lesser Whitethroats are preyed upon by various birds of prey, including Sparrowhawks and Merlins. Their nests are vulnerable to corvids, such as Magpies and Jays, as well as small mammals like weasels.
Did You Know?
- Lesser Whitethroats can travel up to 5,000 km (3,100 miles) during their annual migration.
- They are one of the latest summer migrants to arrive in the UK each year.
- Despite their name, Lesser Whitethroats are not closely related to the Common Whitethroat. They can be told apart from the larger whitethroat as they have shorter tails and the darker cheek patches are missing in, the larger species.
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References
- 1 2
website: BirdLife International. 2019. Sylvia curruca (amended version of 2017 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22734992A155625468.
View source - 3
report, 2015: EBCC