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Whitethroat

Curruca communis

Not yet photographed by the community

Scratchy singer of scrub and hedgerows.

Species Profile

Amber List (breeding population declined significantly in the 1970s–1980s; has since recovered)

Lifespan: 3–5 years in the wild
Size & Weight: 12–13 cm, wingspan 17–21 cm; 14–19 g
Habitat: Open scrubby areas, hedgerows, bramble patches, and rough ground with low dense vegetation, particularly in southern and central Britain.
UK Distribution: Summer breeding visitor found throughout England, Wales, and southern Scotland from April to September; absent in winter as it migrates to West Africa.
Diet: Primarily small insects and spiders during breeding season; switches to berries and small fruits in late summer and autumn before migration.
Prey: Insects including flies, aphids, caterpillars, and small spiders; not a predator of vertebrates
Predators: Sparrowhawks, hobbies, and other raptors; corvids and foxes may take eggs and chicks from nests.
Mating Season: April to July
Breeding: Clutch size of 4–5 eggs; incubation period of 10–12 days; typically single-brooded, occasionally double-brooded; fledging at 10–12 days.
Behaviour: Males are highly vocal and territorial, singing from prominent perches with a characteristic scratchy, rattling song. Birds are restless and active foragers, often skulking in dense vegetation but also performing distinctive rising display flights. Strongly migratory, with rapid spring arrival and autumn departure.

Did You Know?

•The Whitethroat suffered a dramatic 77% population crash in 1969, linked to drought conditions in West African wintering grounds.
•Males perform spectacular 'song flights' climbing steeply into the air before tumbling back down with wings and tail spread.
•Both sexes have a distinctive white throat patch, but males show a rusty-grey head while females are browner.
•The species was previously classified as Sylvia communis but has been reclassified to the genus Curruca following genetic studies.
•Whitethroats are one of the earliest summer migrants to return to Britain, often arriving in late March or early April.

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