They are slightly smaller than a Robin. Males in breeding plumage have a black head with white patch on side of neck, an orange-red breast and a dark brown back with a small white rump. Outside of the breeding season males are more subdued in colour. Females lack the black head and less obvious white patch on side of neck with a brown streaked back.
Whinchats are slightly smaller, with longer wings and white sides to base of tail. Males have a prominent white eye stripe and another white stripe below cheeks. Females have a buff white eye stripe.
They eat seeds, fruit and a variety of insects.
They like to nest low down in vegetation or under a gorse bush or shrub. Breeds widely in the West and North of Britain and Ireland.
March – June and can have 2-3 broods per nesting season. In exceptional cases, up to four broods.
They have an average lifespan of 4-5 years old.
They are a resident bird, but some are partial migrants. They will leave their summer territories and winter in coastal areas. Some migrate to Southern Europe and North Africa.
No, they are a species which are benefitting from warmer winters, and their population is strongly increasing. They are much more widespread in winter; the species distribution has increased to cover 80% of the UK.
Wintering birds arrive in autumn.
Those birds that breed outside of the UK can leave as early as February.
