Whitethroat

Curruca communis

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.

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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

Male Female

Primary Colour

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour

White Buff

Beak Colour

Grey Yellow

Leg Colour

Brown Yellow

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown

Secondary Colour (Female)

Buff

Beak Colour (Female)

Grey Brown

Leg Colour (Female)

Brown Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Whitethroat can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Whitethroat is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Whitethroat is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Whitethroat is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Whitethroat is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Whitethroat can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Whitethroat can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Whitethroat is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Whitethroat is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Whitethroat is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Whitethroat is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Whitethroat is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

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

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a 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