Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)
Lesser Whitethroats are slightly smaller and neater than Whitethroats, with plain grey-brown backs, grey tails and darker legs. Males and females are similar and juveniles are very similar to adults.
Habitat
Lesser Whitethroats breed in scrub, such as overgrown hedgerows and abandoned railway lines.
Behaviour
Lesser Whitethroats are migratory birds from north-east Africa, visiting Britain in summer. They are illusive birds but give themselves away by their song. They are territorial in spring, but are sociable outside the breeding season forming flocks of up to 20.
Feeding
Lesser Whitethroats mainly eat beetles, ants, flies and midges and also some fruit, especially blackberries.
Voice
Their call is hard tak. Their song is a quiet, undistinguishable warble followed by a loud machine gun-like cha- cha- cha- cha- cha.