Whinchat

Saxicola rubetra (Linnaeus, 1758)

Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra, is a passerine of the Muscicapidae that breeds across Europe to central Russia and north-west Mongolia, and spends the non-breeding season in western, central and north-eastern Africa. It is a migratory bird of open grassy country with rough growth and scattered small shrubs. A notable feature is the strong pale stripe above the eye. The species was first described by Linnaeus in 1758. It belongs to the order Passeriformes and the family Muscicapidae, the chats and Old World flycatchers.

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Muscicapidae — Chats, Old World Flycatchers

Breeding range

Palearctic: Europe to c Russia and nw Mongolia

Nonbreeding range

w, c, ne Africa