This small warbler with a distinctive white throat brings a burst of song to hedgerows and scrubland across Europe, Asia, and Africa during its annual migration.

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Whitethroat is a small warbler with a distinctive appearance. Males have a grey head, white throat, and pinkish-brown upperparts. The wings are reddish-brown, contrasting with the body. Their legs are yellowish-brown.

Females are duller, have a smaller white throat patch and lack the grey head, with overall brown plumage. Females also have greyish-brown legs. Both sexes have a pale eye-ring and a long tail often held cocked. Juveniles resemble females but have a buffier throat.

Size

Length

13cm to 15cm

Wingspan

20cm to 23cm

Weight

13g to 18g

Colours

Primary Colour

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour

White Buff

Beak Colour

Grey Yellow

Leg Colour

Brown Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

Garden

Wetland

Coastal

Urban

Farmland

Grassland

Desert

Tundra

Rainforest

Mountain

Savanna

Distribution

Whitethroats inhabit open countryside with scattered bushes, hedgerows, and young woodland. They are widespread across Europe and western Asia during the breeding season, including the UK and Ireland.

These birds are long-distance migrants, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. In the UK, they are common summer visitors, arriving in April and departing by September for their southward journey. They are most common in central, southern and eastern parts of England, although they breed as far north as Shetland.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

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Resident
Breeding
Non-breeding
Passage
Vagrant

Distribution by Region

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Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85
Strength 30
Adaptability 75
Aggressiveness 40
Endurance 70

Diet

Whitethroats are primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of small invertebrates, including beetles, caterpillars, flies, and spiders. They supplement their diet with berries and small fruits, especially during autumn migration. Redcurrants, blackcurrants, sandalwood and buckthorn form an important share.

They often forage low in vegetation, picking insects from leaves and branches.

Behaviour

Whitethroats are known for their energetic behaviour, often seen flitting through bushes and hedgerows. They forage actively, hopping and flying short distances between branches.

During the breeding season, males perform a distinctive display flight, rising into the air while singing before parachuting back down.

Vocalisation

The Whitethroat's song is a short, scratchy warble, often described as hurried and lacking melody. It typically begins with a few harsh notes followed by a more musical phrase, sounding like "hweet-hweet-hweet-chur-chur-chur".

Males often sing from exposed perches or during display flights. Calls include a harsh, buzzing, churring alarm call and a “wheet-wheet-wheet” contact call.

Nesting & Breeding

Whitethroats typically form monogamous pairs each breeding season. Males arrive at breeding grounds first and establish territories, attracting females with song and display flights.

Males build several nests in a territory which the female then examines for suitability before she ultimately chooses the one that she thinks will stand up to the task of raising young. Occasionally none of the male’s efforts will impress, and a female will take over, constructing a new nest in a different location.

The nest is a cup-shaped structure made of grass and plant stems, usually low in dense vegetation. Females lay 4-5 eggs, which are pale green or bluish with brown speckles.

Incubation lasts about 11-13 days, primarily by the female. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after 10-12 days but remain dependent on adults for another two weeks.

Lifespan

Typical Lifespan Range 2 - years
Max Recorded Lifespan 9 years [1]
0
3
6
8
11

years

The Whitethroat typically lives for 2 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 9 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

Least Concern [2]

While the Whitethroat is currently listed as Least Concern, populations have experienced fluctuations. They faced a significant decline in the late 1960s due to drought in their African wintering grounds.

Conservation efforts focus on maintaining suitable breeding habitats, particularly hedgerows and scrubland in agricultural areas.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

53,200,000 - 85,500,000 mature individuals [3]

Global Population Trend

Increasing[4]

Birdwatching Tips

  • Look for Whitethroats in scrubby areas, hedgerows, and field margins
  • Listen for their scratchy, warbling song, often delivered from an exposed perch
  • Watch for their characteristic display flight during the breeding season
  • In the UK, they are common summer visitors, arriving in April and leaving by September

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Common Whitethroat

Family:

Sylviidae

Predators

Whitethroats are preyed upon by various birds of prey, including Sparrowhawks and Kestrels. Ground predators such as foxes and domestic cats may also target nests and fledglings.

Did You Know?

  1. Whitethroats can raise two broods in a single breeding season if conditions are favourable.
  2. Their scientific name, Curruca communis, means "common babbler" in Latin.
  3. Male Whitethroats often continue singing well into July, later than many other summer migrants.

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References

  1. 2 3

    website: BirdLife International. 2019. Sylvia communis (amended version of 2017 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22716910A155623300.

    View source
  2. 4

    report, 2015: EBCC

  3. 1

    website, 2010: Fransson et al., EURING list of longevity records for European birds

    View source