Lesser whitethroat

Sylvia curruca

The lesser whitethroat (Curruca curruca) is a common and widespread Old World warbler which breeds in temperate Europe, except the southwest, and in the western and central Palearctic.

Family: Sylviidae Order: passerines Conservation: Least Concern

About the Lesser whitethroat

The lesser whitethroat (Curruca curruca) 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. Unlike many sylviid warblers, the sexes are almost identical. This is a small species with a grey back, whitish underparts, a grey head with a darker "bandit mask" through the eyes and a white throat. It is slightly smaller than the common whitethroat, and lacks the chestnut wings and uniform head-face colour of that species. The lesser whitethroat's song is a fast and rattling sequence of tet or che calls, quite different from the common whitethroat's scolding song. Like most "warblers", it is in

Fun Facts About Lesser whitethroat

The nest is built in low shrub or brambles, and 3 to 7 eggs are laid.
This small passerine bird is strongly migratory, wintering in Africa just south of the Sahara, Arabia and India.
This is a bird of fairly open country and cultivation, with large bushes for nesting and some trees.
The lesser whitethroat's song is a fast and rattling sequence of tet or che calls, quite different from the common whitethroat's scolding song.
The lesser whitethroat (Curruca curruca) is a common and widespread Old World warbler which breeds in temperate Europe, except the southwest, and in the western and central Palearctic.

Conservation Status

The Lesser whitethroat is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This species is currently stable and not at significant risk of population decline.

View on IUCN Red List →

Taxonomy & Classification

Order	passerines
Family	Sylviidae
Genus	Sylvia
Species	Sylvia curruca

Range & Habitat