ExploreBirds

Common Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

The Common Chiffchaff is a small, cheerful bird known for its lovely singing. It has a brownish-green color and loves to hop around in trees and bushes, looking for tasty insects to eat.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Common Chiffchaff is a tiny, active bird with dull olive-green upperparts and pale off-white underparts. It has fine, dark legs and a faint pale stripe above its eye. Its plain appearance helps it blend into leafy environments.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyPhylloscopidaeGenusPhylloscopus
Common Chiffchaff
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Common Chiffchaff

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Chiffchaffs build their cozy, dome-shaped nests secretly on or near the ground!

Some Chiffchaffs fly thousands of miles from Siberia to Africa each year!

Their 'chiff-chaff' song can sometimes slow down and even swap to 'chaff-chiff'!

Their tiny legs are designed for hopping nimbly through branches, not for walking!

Special abilities

Ability

Tiny Bug Tracker

Common Chiffchaff can quickly snatch insects from leaves or in mid-air because of their agile flight and sharp eyesight that helps them find tiny prey.

Ability

Seasonal Wanderer

Common Chiffchaff has incredible navigation skills that help them fly thousands of kilometers each year to warmer climates for winter and return in spring.

Ability

Sound Identifier

Common Chiffchaff can be identified by its distinctive 'chiff-chaff' song that helps them communicate and defend territory, even when hidden in the leaves.

Measurements & details

Length
10-12 cm
Wingspan
15-21 cm
Weight
0.006-0.01 kg
Lifespan
2-7 years
Top Speed
32 km/h
Clutch Size
4-7
Incubation
13-15 days
Migration Distance
3500 km

Diet & Feeding

Tiny insects and their larvae are the main meal for this busy little bird.

Primary Foods

  • flies
  • beetles
  • moths
  • aphids
  • spiders
  • caterpillars

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

a key predator of small woodland birds.

eaten by

Domestic Cat

Felis catus

a common predator in gardens and parks.

shelters

Pedunculate Oak

Quercus robur

provides dense cover for nesting and insect foraging.

parasitizes

Common Cuckoo

Cuculus canorus

lays its eggs in the chiffchaff's nest for raising.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to touch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Common Chiffchaff?

10-12 cm

What is Common Chiffchaff's wingspan?

15-21 cm

How much does Common Chiffchaff weigh?

0.006-0.01 kg

How long does Common Chiffchaff live?

2-7 years

How fast can Common Chiffchaff move?

32 km/h

What does Common Chiffchaff eat?

Tiny insects and their larvae are the main meal for this busy little bird.

Where is Common Chiffchaff usually found?

Forests

How does Common Chiffchaff hunt?

Foraging

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Where to spot

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