Common Whitethroat

A lively warbler of open country with thick hedges and brambles. It is a summer migrant that arrives in Europe from Africa in April. It has a long tail and reddish-brown wings. It is named for its bright white throat. It is an active bird that often performs a dancing song-flight over its territory.

The male is a persistent singer. He delivers a scratchy, hurried warble from the top of a hedge. When agitated, they raise their crown feathers into a small crest. They forage for insects but also eat berries in late summer. They depart for the south in autumn.