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Birds

Birds

Common name Whinchat
Scientific name Saxicola rubetra
Type Shrubland birds
Status Migrator

Bird of small size (about 13 cm or 5 in) similar to the African or European Stonechat, from which it differs by having brown plumage on the underparts, a lighter throat, a visible white eyebrow and very visible white spots on both sides of the tail. Females with more discreet plumage than the males.

Habitats

Scrubland

Where it lives

Open spaces, that range from beaches to mountain areas. Also in crops and areas with low, sparse vegetation. In its breeding territory it uses mostly wet grasslands, heaths and meadows with mosaics of shrub hedges.

How it lives

Bird present in Malaga only during its migratory passages. It does not nest in the province, passing to the north of the Peninsula in spring from its wintering territories south of the Sahara. It makes an annual laying of 2 to 7 eggs. Nest on the ground. Insectivore.

Where it can be seen in Malaga

Since the Whinchat is a bird that is watched in passage it can be located almost anywhere in the province, although not abundantly. The mouth of the Guadalhorce River is a good place for its observation. In the Great Path it usually appears in stages 12 and 34.

Curious facts

It tends to appear perched in open, very visible places and elevated on the ground. Males and females are usually always perched close to each other. If one changes the perch, the other follows after a short time.

Similar birds
Routes where it can be observed
Present
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Wintering Summer Resident Migration
Audios