Birds of the World

Turdidae : Thrushes & Chats

Whinchat

Saxicola rubetra

Lothian, Scotland - May 2005

Whinchats, whose favoured habitats include a variety of rough ground sparsely vegetated with shrubby bushes or low trees, have been declining throughout most of their range due to an increase in intensive agriculture. 

Lothian, Scotland - May 2005

In Britain, Whinchats tend to be birds of upland areas and can be readily found in the areas where they occur due to their habit of using high vantage points such as gorse bushes or fence posts to spot their insect prey.

Lothian, Scotland - May 2005

Whinchats breed throughout most of Europe and Asia Minor and spend the winter in sub-saharan Africa.  They are  most common in the northwestern parts of their range (eg. Scandinavia).

Lothian, Scotland - May 2005

Lothian, Scotland - May 2005