Greater whitethroat
The Common whitethroat (Curruca communis) is a widespread strongly migratory warbler that breeds throughout Europe and across much of temperate western Asia. In Europe, western and eastern populations of these small birds have contrasting molting and pre-migratory fueling strategies to capitalize on food supplies before departing their breeding and non-breeding grounds.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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SolitaryMi
MigratingAnimal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individual animals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is the most common form of migrati...
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starts withThis species has distinct male and female plumages. Both sexes are mainly brown above and buff below, with chestnut fringes to the secondary remiges. The adult male has a grey head and a white throat. The female lacks the grey head, and the throat is duller.
Common whitethroats breed throughout Europe and across much of temperate western Asia and winter in tropical Africa, Arabia, and Pakistan. These birds prefer to live in open country such as grasslands and steppes with scattered bushes and shrubs, semi-arid savanna, woodland clearings and edges, and heathland. They like to breed in orchards, hedgerows on roadsides, shrubs near watercourses, and pastures.
Common whitethroats are active during the day spending their time in search of food. They usually forage in low vegetation, peaking various insects from foliage. They may also catch insects in flight. Common whitethroats are usually seen singly. Their song is fast and scratchy, with a scolding tone. The hoarse, slightly nasal, call sounds like 'wed-wed' or 'woid-woid'. The warning cry is long-pulled, rough 'tschehr'.
Common whitethroats are carnivores (insectivores) They mainly feed on various insects and supplement their diet with berries and other soft fruit.
Common whitethroats are monogamous and form pairs. Their breeding season usually takes place between May and July. The male constructs several nests and the female then selects and completes one of these nests or constructs a new nest in another area. The nest is usually built in low shrubs or brambles. The female lays 4-5 eggs and both parents incubate them for 9-14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and first leave the nest 12-14 days after hatching. They become independent 15-20 days later.
There are no major threats to Common whitethroats at present.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total Common whitethroat population size is over 10 million individuals or 53,200,000-85,500,000 mature individuals. In Europe, the breeding population consists of 17,300,000-27,800,000 pairs, which equates to 34,600,000-55,600,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are increasing.
