Whitethroat
Least ConcernCurruca communis
Visual Identification
Whitethroat
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
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
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
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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
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
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.
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:
SylviidaePredators
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?
- Whitethroats can raise two broods in a single breeding season if conditions are favourable.
- Their scientific name, Curruca communis, means "common babbler" in Latin.
- Male Whitethroats often continue singing well into July, later than many other summer migrants.
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References
- 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 - 4
report, 2015: EBCC
- 1
website, 2010: Fransson et al., EURING list of longevity records for European birds
View source