The common whitethroat or greater whitethroat is a common and widespread Old World warbler which breeds throughout Europe and across much of temperate western Asia. This small passerine bird is strongly migratory, and winters in tropical Africa, Arabia, and Pakistan.
Region
Europe and Western Asia
Typical Environment
Breeds from the British Isles and Scandinavia through much of continental Europe into western and central Asia. Prefers open habitats with dense low shrubs such as hedgerows, bramble thickets, young woodland edges, and rough grassland with scattered bushes. In winter it moves to sub-Saharan Africa, especially the Sahel and East Africa, and also occurs in Arabia and parts of Pakistan. Frequently found near farmland edges, coastal scrub, and fallows with abundant bramble and nettle. Uses berry-rich areas during late summer and autumn to fuel migration.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2000 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The common whitethroat is a lively scrub-dwelling warbler named for its conspicuous white throat, especially visible in displaying males. Males perform short parachuting song-flights from bushes, delivering a scratchy, rattling warble. It breeds widely across Europe and western Asia and undertakes long migrations to winter in sub-Saharan Africa, also reaching Arabia and Pakistan. It readily exploits bramble patches and hedgerows and often switches to berry-rich diets before migration.
Eggs, Collection Museum Wiesbaden, Germany
Female with chicks
Cuculus canorus canorus in a clutch of Sylvia communis - MHNT
Temperament
active and somewhat skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with fluttering display flights
Social Behavior
Generally monogamous during the breeding season, defending small territories in dense shrubbery. Nests low in thick vegetation, building a neat cup where 4–5 eggs are laid. Both parents feed the young, and fledglings disperse quickly into surrounding cover.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Song is a brisk, scratchy warble with rattling phrases delivered from a perch or during a brief parachuting display flight. Calls include a harsh 'tchurr' scold and a dry 'tcek' contact note. Phrases are varied and energetic, often accelerating toward the end.
Plumage
Upperparts warm grey-brown with rufous fringes to the wings; underparts pale with a bright white throat. Males show a greyer head with stronger contrast, females and juveniles are browner and less contrasting. Feathers are sleek with fine edging, and a pale eye-ring is often evident.
Diet
Primarily consumes insects and other small invertebrates such as caterpillars, beetles, aphids, and spiders during the breeding season. In late summer and autumn it shifts heavily to fruits and berries, especially bramble, elder, and currant. Occasionally gleans from foliage, sallies short distances for flying insects, and forages on or near the ground.
Preferred Environment
Feeds within dense shrubs, bramble tangles, hedgerows, and field margins, often moving methodically through cover. Also uses coastal scrub and young woodland edges where insects and berries are abundant.
