Is this a whitethroat?

[robster970]

There is a tree at the bottom corner of my garden which backs onto farmland and hedgerow. It's a great lookout for most birds and its regularly used a wide variety of them.

Anyway I was drawn to the song of this bird and noticed it had a white throat

I'm struggling to identify it as whitethroats seem to have a slightly different colour and head shape...

Is this a whitethroat? If not, what is it? It's got a great song whatever it is.
ta

Pic 1

Pic 2

[Ukwildlifeo]

Its one of the whitethroats. I don't think its a lesser whitethroat, so I'd go with just a whitethroat. but Im no expert. SOmeone will hopefull confirm or correct me soon

[Oookster]

Yup that is indeed a whitethroat

Oookster

[RobinP]

It does look a little grey but I reckon it is a Common Whitethroat, the Lesser is a more skulking sort of bird while the Common perches atop bushes normally. The song is a good indication also.

[robster970]

Thanks for confirming my suspicions. Whilst I was writing the original post I could hear it singing again, had a look out of the window and there it was.

I think the thing that made me wonder about its identification was the extent of grey in the plumage - I was expecting it to be a little browner.

thanks once again.

[ChrisJB]

Yes, a whitethroat.

Regards, Chris

[PeterD]

Originally Posted by robster970

Thanks for confirming my suspicions. Whilst I was writing the original post I could hear it singing again, had a look out of the window and there it was.

I think the thing that made me wonder about its identification was the extent of grey in the plumage - I was expecting it to be a little browner.

thanks once again.

Yes its definately a whitethroat. See my image:


The song is one of the best I have heard. Its so rich and clear. Its always a pleasure to meet up with them.

PeterD

[robster970]

That's the chap Peter

As you said, the song is pretty special - lovely to listen to.

I'm really lucky as we live in a semi-rural area with lots of greenbelt, farmland, hedgerow so the range of birds is astounding. We live in south buck so we have the Red Kites regularly circling overhead on the one hand and the cheeky territorial family of robins battling over the garden on the other hand. Have spotted Redwings earlier in the year perched in the same place as the Whitethroat. Found a young great tit stuck in our bedroom last week - came in during the good weather. Got it out eventually, poor thing.

anyway rambling over

[big bill]

Its the Whitethroat - Sylvia communis

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Definatly a whitethroat. We've had a lesser calling at the local patch for the last week, not seen it yet.Hopefully it'll nest there, that'd be a first

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Lincs Yellowbelly

Definatly a whitethroat. We've had a lesser calling at the local patch for the last week, not seen it yet.Hopefully it'll nest there, that'd be a first

Whilst I've seen many lessers over the years, I have never had a clear view of one. I hear the song, go for a look and just see fleeting glimpses in the undergrowth. A frustrating species for me!

Regards, Chris