Bird of the Year 2023 Pair of Whinchat

The whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) is closely related to the well-known and popular garden bird, the robin, but in contrast to this, it inhabits open wet meadows and fallow land in the cultivated landscape. It used to be widespread there, but today the whinchat in Bavaria only occurs in remaining populations in the north and south of the Free State. Monotonous grass areas, early and frequent mowing and the decline in insect food cause problems for the small bird with the brown-orange throat. The whinchat spends most of the year in its winter quarters south of the Sahara, in the humid tropics. In April the first whinchats return to Bavaria and look for a territory in structured and flower-rich meadows with individual bushes, tall shrubs or fence posts as perches. From these they hunt for insects and the male also sings from a high place. The whinchat is slightly smaller than a sparrow. Its plumage is brown with detailed, fine markings. A light stripe above the eye, which is bright white in males, is noticeable in all species and ages. The throat and chest are colored orange-brown, which gives it its name. As a meadow bird, the whinchat benefits from structurally rich, extensively used wet meadows that are only mowed late in the summer and provide a habitat for many insects. In the short term, artificial perches such as bamboo sticks, elephant grass or reeds in meadows help the whinchat.