🐦

Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

Not yet photographed by the community

Its name describes its repetitive spring call.

Species Profile

Green List (UK)

Lifespan: 4–8 years in the wild
Size & Weight: 10–11 cm, wingspan 13–15 cm; 7–9 g
Habitat: Open woodland edges, scrub, parks, and gardens with scattered trees and dense undergrowth.
UK Distribution: Summer breeder throughout the UK; winters in small numbers in southern England and Wales, with populations augmented by continental birds in autumn and spring migration.
Diet: Almost entirely small insects and spiders, gleaned from foliage and twigs; occasionally takes berries in autumn and winter.
Prey: Small insects including gnats, midges, small flies, aphids, and spider eggs
Predators: Sparrowhawks, Eurasian jays, domestic cats, and occasionally corvids; nest predation by weasels and grey squirrels
Mating Season: April to July
Breeding: Clutch size 4–7 eggs; incubation period 13–15 days; fledging period 12–15 days; typically two broods per season
Behaviour: Highly active and restless forager, constantly moving through vegetation with jerky, energetic movements. Males are highly territorial and vocal, with a distinctive repetitive two-syllable song ('chiff-chaff') that gives the species its name. Often joins mixed-species feeding flocks during winter.

Did You Know?

•The chiffchaff's name is directly onomatopoetic, derived from its monotonous, repetitive song
•Chiffchaffs are among the earliest spring migrants, sometimes arriving in late February during mild winters
•They are one of the smallest warblers in the UK, weighing less than a 1p coin
•The species is closely related to the willow warbler, with which it is often confused; the two can be distinguished by call and behaviour more easily than by sight
•Recent research suggests that populations are shifting northwards due to climate change, with more birds overwintering in the UK than historically recorded

🐦

No photos yet

Be the first to photograph a Chiffchaff and share it with the community.