# Whinchat (*Saxicola rubetra*) The Whinchat is a small, colorful bird that loves to hop around in fields and meadows. It has a lovely song and is often seen perched on tall grass or fences, looking for tasty insects to eat. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Whinchat](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Saxicola_rubetra_poklaskwa_AM.jpg&width=800) Photo: Artur Mikołajewski, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saxicola_rubetra_poklaskwa_AM.jpg) ## Appearance The Whinchat is a plump, upright songbird with a distinctive white supercilium and dark cheek patch. Males display a striking orange-buff breast and flanks, contrasting with a streaky brown back. Its bold facial markings help distinguish it from similar small perching birds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Muscicapidae - **Genus:** Saxicola ## Interesting facts - Male Whinchats show off vibrant orange chests to impress females during breeding season. - These tiny birds often perch on tall plant stems, like a lookout tower, to spot tasty bugs below! - Whinchat babies grow super fast, leaving the nest just two weeks after hatching! - Whinchats got their name from their call, which sounds like 'whit-chat,' giving away their presence! ## Special abilities - **Marathon Migrator:** Whinchats can fly thousands of miles from Europe to Africa because of their efficient flight, helping them find warm winter food. - **Aerial Acrobat:** Whinchats have sharp eyesight and agility that helps them snatch flying insects mid-air, ensuring a fresh meal. - **Camouflage Nest Builder:** Whinchats can hide their nests skillfully on the ground because their camouflaged plumage helps them blend into dense vegetation, protecting eggs and chicks. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 12-14 cm - **Wingspan:** 21-24 cm - **Weight:** 0.013-0.026 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-7 - **Incubation:** 11-14 days - **Migration Distance:** 5000 km ## Diet & Feeding Whinchats feast on tiny insects and spiders, which they skillfully catch in mid-air or snatch from plants. - **Primary Foods:** beetles, grasshoppers, flies, moths, spiders, berries - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Common Kestrel (*Falco tinnunculus*) — Common Kestrels prey on small birds like Whinchats in open habitats. - **Eaten by:** Common European Adder (*Vipera berus*) — Snakes like adders can find and eat Whinchat eggs or young chicks from ground nests. - **Hunts:** Common Meadow Grasshopper (*Chorthippus parallelus*) — Whinchats actively hunt and eat grasshoppers from meadows and grasslands. - **Hunts:** [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) — Spiders are a common food source for Whinchats, caught from vegetation. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and be quiet so you don't scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Whinchat? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Whinchat? 12-14 cm ### What is Whinchat's wingspan? 21-24 cm ### How much does Whinchat weigh? 0.013-0.026 kg ### How long does Whinchat live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Whinchat move? 45 km/h ### What does Whinchat eat? Whinchats feast on tiny insects and spiders, which they skillfully catch in mid-air or snatch from plants. ### Where is Whinchat usually found? Grasslands ## Where to spot - [Cabrera Archipelago National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cabrera-archipelago-national-park) — Spain, ES · National Park - [Biosphärengebiet Schwäbische Alb](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/biospharengebiet-schwabische-alb) — Baden-Württemberg, DE · Park - [Biosphärenregion Berchtesgadener Land](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berchtesgadener-land-biosphere-region) — Bayern, DE · Park - [Naturpark Frankenwald](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-frankenwald) — Bayern, DE · Park - [Naturpark Lahn-Dill-Bergland](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-lahn-dill-bergland) — Hessen, DE · Park - [Millevaches en Limousin Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/millevaches-en-limousin-regional-nature-park) — Nouvelle-Aquitaine, FR · Park [View all places to see Whinchat](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/whinchat) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Whinchat: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/whinchat)