- Lifespan
- 4–6 years in the wild
- Size & Weight
- 15–16 cm, wingspan 22–26 cm; 16–22 g
- Habitat
- Open woodlands, heathland, moorland edges, and clearings with scattered trees and rough ground for foraging.
- UK Distribution
- Summer breeding visitor across much of England, Wales, and Scotland (April to August), with concentrations in upland and wooded regions; absent from Ireland and rare in winter.
- Diet
- Primarily small insects and spiders, including flies, small beetles, and insect larvae; occasionally feeds on seeds and small berries in autumn.
- Prey
- Small invertebrates (flies, beetles, spiders, insect larvae)
- Predators
- Sparrowhawks, Eurasian kestrels, and corvids; eggs and chicks vulnerable to stoats, weasels, and foxes.
- Mating Season
- April to July
- Breeding
- Clutch of 4–5 eggs, incubation period 10–14 days, fledging at 10–12 days; typically two broods per season.
- Behaviour
- Highly active and restless forager, often feeding on the ground; males perform distinctive parachuting display flights from treetops with loud, repetitive song. Solitary or in small groups except during migration, when loose flocks gather.