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19

Whinchat

(Saxicola rubetra)
German name(s): "Braunkehlchen"
Size: 12-14 cm; wing span 21-24 cm
Weight: 13-26 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Whinchat at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a singing male Whinchat; note the white supercilia and dark cheeks; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 24 June 2019 (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, June 2019]

Lateral view of a male Whinchat; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 24 June 2019 (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, June 2019]

Lateral/ventral view of a male Whinchat (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Biebrza NP, Poland, May 2017]

Lateral view of a male Whinchat (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a male Whinchat (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

Dorsal view of a male Whinchat (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Whinchat (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, June 2019]

Lateral view of a female Whinchat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2020]

Dorsal view of a female Whinchat (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, June 2019]

PAIR

Frontal view of a pair of Whinchats; male below, female above with drooping wings as often seen in robins (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

Frontal/near-lateral view of a pair of Whinchats; male on the left, female on the right (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

Lateral view ofa pair of Whinchats; male below, female above (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a first-winter Whinchat looking at the observer (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2020]

Lateral view of a first-winter Whinchat, now issuing its call (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2020]

Lateral view of a first-winter Whinchat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2018]

Lateral view of a juvenile Whinchat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Whinchat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Whinchat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Whinchat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Whinchat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2014]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Whinchat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]

Food, Diet

Whinchats are mostly insectivores, but may take fruit or berries in autumn.

Pair of Whinchats; male on the left, female on the right - the male has caught a caterpillar (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

Frontal view of a female Whinchat with a berry (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

whnchat_dw_20200612.m4a (Poland) Contact calls? © DW
whnchat_dw_20200612_2.m4a (Poland) Contact calls? (pair Q&A) © DW
whnchat_dw_20190624_2b.m4a (Poland) Territorial call (male) © DW
whnchat_dw_20190624_2c.m4a (Poland) Territorial call (male) © DW
whnchat_dw_20160529.m4a (Poland) Territorial calls (male) © DW
whnchat_dw_20190624_2a.m4a (Poland) Territorial calls (male) © DW

More Whinchat sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.