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Lesser Whitethroat

(Sylvia curruca)
Alternate name(s): "Desert Lesser Whitethroat"
German name(s): "Klappergrasmücke"

Size: 12.5-13.5 cm; wingspan: 16.5-20.5 cm
Weight: 7-18 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 Lesser Whitethroat at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "curruca"

This race is also called the "Western Lesser Whitethroat".

MALE

Frontal view of a male Lesser Whitethroat; the determination of the sex was made by behaviour, not by physical appearance (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

Frontal view of a male Lesser Whitethroat; the determination of the sex was made by behaviour, not by physical appearance - this is the bird whose calls were recorded in May 2016 (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

Lateral view of a male Lesser Whitethroat; the determination of the sex was made by behaviour, not by physical appearance - this is the bird whose calls were recorded in May 2016 (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]

Lateral view of a (probably male) Lesser Whitethroat (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2015]

Near-dorsal view of a (probably male) Lesser Whitethroat (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2015]

Near-dorsal view of a male Lesser Whitethroat (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]

Dorsal view of a male Lesser Whitethroat; the determination of the sex was made by behaviour, not by physical appearance (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Lesser Whitethroat; the determination of the sex was made by behaviour, not by physical appearance (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a female Lesser Whitethroat; the determination of the sex was made by behaviour, not by physical appearance (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

Frontal view of a Lesser Whitethroat (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2015]

Near-lateral view of a Lesser Whitethroat (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2015]

Lateral view of a Lesser Whitethroat (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[5 km North of Temerin, Serbia, May 2016]

Lateral view of a Lesser Whitethroat searching for insects (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2015]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Lesser Whitethroat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

Frontal view of a juvenile Lesser Whitethroat with its crest erected (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Lesser Whitethroat looking backwards (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

Lateral view of a juvenile Lesser Whitethroat looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Apr - Jul Eggs: 3 - 7 Incubation period: ? Fledging age: ?

Nest

Type: Basket Material: Twigs, grass stems Height above ground: 1 - 3? m

Lesser Whitethroat nest in a garden shrub right next to the wall of a house (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

Eggs

Size: 17 x 13 mm Colour: Grey-white, with dark-brown speckles Shape: Tapered oval

View of the 6 eggs in a Lesser Whitethroat nest (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]

Food, Diet

Lesser Whitethroats are primarily insectivores, but will occasionally also take soft fruit or berries.

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.

deslwht_dw_20160504.m4a curruca
(Poland)
Territorial calls (male) © DW
deslwht_dw_20160523.m4a curruca
(Poland)
Territorial calls (male) © DW
deslwht_dw_20160523_2.m4a curruca
(Poland)
Territorial calls (male) © DW
deslwht_dw_20190427.m4a curruca
(Poland)
Territorial calls? (at nest) © DW

More Lesser Whitethroat 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.

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If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.