Whinchat

Brown upperparts are mottled with darker marks, above a pale throat and breast and a whitish belly. A clear pale stripe over each eye gives the face a bright line, while white at the base of the outer tail feathers shows when the tail flicks. In breeding season, the male’s throat and breast turn orange-buff, and small white patches show on his wings.

On the ground, it moves in quick hops, often bobbing and flicking its wings and tail. From a fence post, shrub or tall weed, it scans for insects, then darts down to snatch them from the ground or air. Its call is a brisk "hue-tac-tac"; the male’s breeding song mixes soft, crackly whistles with harsher notes and may include phrases copied from other species.

Rough grassland with scattered shrubs suits it, including pasture, heath and other open ground; it needs a few high perches among the low growth. It feeds mostly on insects, with spiders, small snails and worms also on the menu, and takes a little fruit in autumn. After breeding in Europe and western Asia, it migrates south to sub-Saharan Africa for winter and returns in spring.