Species Profile
Whitethroat
Curruca communis
Whitethroat, also known as the Common and Greater Whitethroat
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernAlso known as: Common Whitethroat
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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.
Identification & Characteristics
Male Colors
- Primary
- Brown
- Secondary
- White
- Beak
- Grey
- Legs
- Brown
Female Colors
- Primary
- Brown
- Secondary
- Buff
- Beak
- Grey
- Legs
- Brown
Female Markings
Duller plumage than males, lacking the grey head
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & 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.
Distribution
Where to See This Bird
Explore regional guides for locations where this bird has been recorded.
United Kingdom
Northern Ireland
Scotland
England
Cambridgeshire
Wales
Rutland
Bedfordshire
Buckinghamshire
Berkshire
Bristol
Cheshire
Cornwall
Cumbria
Derbyshire
Devon
Gloucestershire
Dorset
Durham
East Riding of Yorkshire
Essex
East Sussex
Hampshire
Herefordshire
Hertfordshire
Isle of Wight
Kent
Merseyside
Lancashire
Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
London
Manchester
Northumberland
Norfolk
Northamptonshire
Nottinghamshire
North Yorkshire
Oxfordshire
South Yorkshire
Tyne and Wear
West Midlands
Suffolk
Shropshire
Somerset
Surrey
Staffordshire
Stockton-on-Tees
Warwickshire
Wiltshire
West Yorkshire
Worcestershire
West Sussex
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.
Calls & Sounds
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.
Conservation
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.
Elevation
Up to 2,000 meters
Additional Details
- Predators:
- 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.
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
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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