Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)
Species
Whitethroat (Sylvia communis). Male. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on May 8th 2020.
Male. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on May 8th 2020.
(1/800th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)

Description

L: 13 - 15 cm

The Whitethroat is a medium-sized warbler, about the size of a Great Tit. It has quite a long tail which it flicks and cocks as it darts rapidly in and out of cover. The male has a grey head, a white throat and a brown back, and is buff underneath.

It can be found most parts of the British Isles in summer, except for the Scottish mountains. It spends the winter in sub-Saharan Africa.

Its breeding habitat is scrubby areas, in farmland with hedgerows, and woodland edges.

Males often sing from the tops of bushes or on wires.

The Whitethroat has Amber status on the British list, although there are about 1.1 million breeding territories here.

Sightings

03-Sep-2023 : Hackpen Hill, Oxon (1)
09-Aug-2023 : Hackpen Hill, Oxon (1)
12-Jun-2023 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
11-Jun-2023 : Hackpen Hill, Oxon (1)
07-Jun-2023 : Pewsey Downs NNR, Wilts (1)
06-Jun-2023 : Aston, Oxon (1)
04-Jun-2023 : Hackpen Hill, Oxon (1)
04-Jun-2023 : Crog Hill, Oxon (h)
29-May-2023 : Fineshade Wood, Northants (h)
28-May-2023 : Fineshade Wood, Northants (h)
25-May-2023 : The Coombes, Wilts (h)
24-May-2023 : Chimney Meadows, Oxon (h)
23-May-2023 : The Coombes, Wilts (1)
21-May-2023 : Hackpen Hill, Oxon (1)
20-May-2023 : Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon (h)
20-May-2023 : Cholsey Marsh, Oxon (h)
18-May-2023 : Otmoor, Oxon (1+)
15-May-2023 : Crog Hill, Oxon (1)
13-May-2023 : Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon (h)
30-Apr-2023 : The Coombes, Wilts (1)
21-Apr-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)

22-Jun-2022 : Irton Fell, Cumbria (h)
12-Jun-2022 : Crog Hill, Oxon (h)
03-Jun-2022 : Aston, Oxon (h)
02-Jun-2022 : Chimney Meadows, Oxon (1+)
28-May-2022 : Hackpen Hill, Oxon (1)
27-May-2022 : Ardley Quarry, Oxon (2)
22-May-2022 : Aston, Oxon (h)
21-May-2022 : Aston, Oxon (1)
19-May-2022 : The Coombes, Wilts (1)
17-May-2022 : The Coombes, Wilts (1)
17-May-2022 : Crog Hill, Oxon (1)
14-May-2022 : Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon (h)
08-May-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
02-May-2022 : Aston, Oxon (1)
30-Apr-2022 : Lid's Down, Oxon (h)
30-Apr-2022 : Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon (h)
30-Apr-2022 : Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon (3)
29-Apr-2022 : Aston, Oxon (2)
29-Apr-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (h)
25-Apr-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1+)
21-Apr-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
16-Apr-2022 : Hackpen Hill, Oxon (2+)

04-Aug-2021 : Crog Hill, Oxon (1)
04-Aug-2021 : Hackpen Hill, Oxon (1)
19-Jul-2021 : Lardon Chase, Berks (1)
17-Jul-2021 : Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon (1)
14-Jul-2021 : Otmoor, Oxon (h)
05-Jul-2021 : Otmoor, Oxon (h)
03-Jul-2021 : Abingdon, Oxon (h)