Photo ©2013–Andreas Trepte
Click for a larger image
Recording ©2022 Hazel Reeves
Photo ©2013–Andreas Trepte
Click for a larger image
Recording ©2022 Hazel Reeves
Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita
Family - Sylviidae
The Chiffchaff is a small insectivorous bird that belongs to the warbler family, famous for its song from which the Chiffchaff derives its name. It is a simple, distinctive and repetitive, "chiff-chaff" call often heard in woodlands during spring and summer, which makes it easy to identify even if not seen. It's one of the most common and widespread warblers across Europe, particularly in woodlands, parks, and gardens. It is a small bird of around 10–12cm (3.9–4.7in) in length with a wingspan of 16-18cm (6.3-7.0in). It weighs around 7-9g (0.24-0.35oz).
It has olive-brown upperparts and a pale underbelly, with a light stripe above the eye, face and throat are pale, with an overall subdued and cryptic colour scheme, helping it blend into its surroundings. It has a thin, pointed bill which is ideal for catching small insects. It can be found in a wide variety of habitats, including woodlands, forests, scrubland, gardens, and parks, they particularly prefer areas with dense vegetation or forest edges, where they can forage for small insects, spiders, and other invertebrates.
Widespread across Europe, especially in the UK, and can be found from Western Europe all the way to the eastern parts of Russia. Some populations migrate to Southern Europe or North Africa during the winter. The Chiffchaff is considered a species of least concern, as it has a stable population and is widely distributed with three commonly accepted subspecies. Like many other species, its numbers could be impacted by habitat loss and climate change in the long term.
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