Thursday 28 July 2011

Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Saxicola ("stone dweller") macularius (species specific name)

Adult female Whinchat (Saxicola rubetraat Rainham Marshes RSPB, London - July 2011


Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 16-24g  /  Length: 12-14cm  /  Wingspan: 22cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Whinchats are one of the least common of the chat species found in the UK, found in much lower densities than species such as wheatear or stoenchat. Like wheatears, they are a summer migrant, returning to Winter in Africa. Normally found on the north and west, this individual turned up at Rainham marshes. They are identified by the prominant white eyestripe, the rusty coloured chest and brown back.  I encountered my second individual in Italy, where it was presumably on passage along Capo Murro di Porco.

Related Species:
Order:
Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Saxicola
Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly numerous but very local breeding Summer migrant (approx. 47,000 pairs)
 - A passage female seen at Rainham Marshes RSPB in July 2011.
ITALY - Italian - stiaccino
A passage migrant
 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Passage migrant at Capo Murro di Porco

Further Notes: BirdForum OpusIUCN Red ListRSPBWikipedia, Xeno-canto

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