- Lifespan
- 5–8 years in the wild
- Size & Weight
- 12–13 cm, wingspan 16–19 cm; 14–17 g
- Habitat
- Open, scrubby terrain including heathland, gorse scrub, rough grassland, and coastal cliffs with low vegetation.
- UK Distribution
- Found throughout the UK year-round, though populations increase in winter with continental migrants. Resident breeder, particularly in southern England, Wales, and coastal regions.
- Diet
- Primarily insects and spiders, including beetles, grasshoppers, ants, and flies; also takes small amounts of berries and seeds in autumn and winter.
- Prey
- Insects (beetles, grasshoppers, ants, flies) and spiders
- Predators
- Sparrowhawks, kestrels, and occasionally larger raptors; foxes and corvids may take eggs and chicks.
- Mating Season
- March to August
- Breeding
- Clutch of 4–6 eggs, incubation period 12–13 days, fledging at 12–13 days. Typically two broods per season.
- Behaviour
- Males are highly territorial and vocal, delivering their distinctive scratchy song from prominent perches. They are agile hunters, often dropping to the ground to catch prey, and characteristically flick their tails and wings. Stonechats are relatively sedentary compared to other chats, preferring to stay within their territory year-round.