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Stonechat (Saxicola torquata)

The Stonechat is a sit and wait predator. It selects an elevated perch, watches the ground below and waits for something to show up in its line of sight; when this happens it flies down and snaps the morsel up, usually an insect. On average it waits for 25 seconds on each perch before moving on, and the average perch height is 1.0 m in spring and 1.6 m in summer. Possibly the latter higher figure is due to a slight change of tactics, because at this time of year the birds frequently leap into the air to catch flying insects.

The Stonechat’s feeding method does not benefit it alone. Groups of birds, including Meadow Pipits, Whitethroats, Dartford Warblers and Reed Buntings will sometimes follow Stonechats along as they feed, knowing that these birds are excellent at spotting predators, and will give alarm calls allowing everyone to flee. In return it is possible that the Stonechat gains too, fielding any insects that are fleeing the foragers further down.

Stonechats are nervous and noisy birds at the best of time. When they have young in the nest, though, this turns to extreme paranoia, and the birds give off two calls incessantly: a “wheet” sound which suppresses the begging calls of the young, and a “chack” sound to distract attention away from the nest. The latter call, which has very similar equivalents in other closely related birds, gives rise to the English name “chat”.

Stonechats sing, too, a pleasing enough, somewhat slurred but scratchy phrase noticeably reminiscent of that of a Dunnock. It has been discovered that males with higher song rates are better providers of food for young, so presumably they are more attractive to females. For singing a male will perch higher up than when it is scanning for food, and it sometimes indulges in a short, very whirring song-flight. The song seems entirely aimed at seducing or pampering the female, because it is seldom heard in aggressive encounters with other males.

In contrast to the situation in Whinchats, Stonechat partners usually remain together throughout the breeding season. Their relationship might last into the following autumn and winter, too, and they might live more or less in the same place all year round, so long as weather conditions allow. Some individuals, though, migrate short or long distances, many going south into the Mediterranean basin for the winter. Resident birds, beginning their breeding season early, often squeeze three, or even four nesting attempts into the year.