The lesser whitethroat is a common and widespread Old World warbler which breeds in temperate Europe, except the southwest, and in the western and central Palearctic. This small passerine bird is strongly migratory, wintering in Africa just south of the Sahara, Arabia and India.
Region
Western and Central Palearctic
Typical Environment
Breeds widely across temperate Europe (excluding the far southwest) and into western and central Asia, favoring scrubby edges, hedgerows, thickets, and open woodland margins. It is strongly migratory, wintering just south of the Sahara in Africa, across the Arabian Peninsula, and into the Indian subcontinent. Prefers mosaic landscapes with dense shrubs for nesting and foraging, including rural hedges, orchards, riverine scrub, and fallow fields. Often uses low to mid-level vegetation and avoids dense closed-canopy forests.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2000 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This small warbler is best recognized by its dry, rattling song delivered from low scrub or hedgerows. It forms a cryptic species complex with several subspecies and closely related forms across the Palearctic. In late summer and on migration it supplements its insect diet with berries, which helps fuel its long journey to Africa, Arabia, and the Indian subcontinent.
Temperament
skulking and wary
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, direct dashes between cover
Social Behavior
Territorial and typically solitary in the breeding season, forming monogamous pairs that build a cup nest low in dense shrubs. After breeding, it may join loose mixed flocks in suitable feeding areas, especially during migration. Both sexes participate in territory defense, and the nest is often well concealed.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Song is a dry, mechanical rattle, usually delivered from within a bush or from the top of a hedge. Calls include a sharp, ticking 'tchk' and soft contact notes. The rattling phrase can accelerate slightly and is a key field clue.
Plumage
Neat, plain grey-brown above with a grey head and clean white throat; underparts are pale with slight grey-buff wash on the flanks.
Diet
Primarily captures small insects and other arthropods, gleaning from leaves and twigs and occasionally sallying for flying prey. In late summer and during migration it takes berries such as elder and bramble, adding sugars to build fat reserves. It may also consume small spiders and caterpillars, shifting diet seasonally with availability.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in dense shrubs, hedgerows, and scrubby woodland edges where it can glean discreetly within cover. Often forages at low to mid vegetation levels and along field margins, orchards, and overgrown gardens.
