European Stonechat [British form]

Saxicola rubicola hibernans

Locally fairly common residents of 15,000 breeding pairs in Britain plus 120,000 birds in Ireland.

The Summer Male has black upperparts, a black head, an orange throat and breast, and a white belly and vent.

It also has a white half-collar on the sides of its neck, a small white scapular patch on the wings, and a very small white patch on the rump often streaked with black.

The Female has brown upperparts and head, and no white neck patches, rump or belly, these areas being streaked dark brown on paler brown.

Juveniles are duller.

The song is high and twittering like a Dunnock.

Both sexes have a clicking call like stones knocking together.