ID Keys: Gray or grayish brown upperparts, dull white underparts,
darker facial mask, white outer tail feathers
The
Lesser Whitethroat is an Old World species that breeds in much of Europe and
central Asia, with a winter range in parts of North Africa, the Middle East,
and southern Asia. In North America, they are only extremely rare
vagrants, with a sighting on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea.
They are rather plain in appearance, with both males and females having very
similar plumage.
Habitat
Found in a variety of semi-open habitats
with shrub and scrub habitats, including hedgerows, shrublands, woodlands
with shrubby undergrowth, and arid scrub lands.
Diet
Feeds mostly on insects and spiders, but
they will also occasionally feed on fruits and berries. Fruits and
berries are mostly consumed in the fall, prior to migration. Also will
sometimes feed on nectar.
Behavior
Fairly secretive, often staying in thick
shrubbery and forest undergrowth.
Nesting
The nest is a cup of twigs and grasses,
lined with finer matrial. The female lays between 4 and 5 eggs, and both
parents help to incubate the eggs. Both parents help to feed the
young. The young leave the nest after about 2 years.
Song
The song of a Lesser Whitethroat is a series
of rapid, rattling notes.
Migration
Breeds in Europe and central Asia.
Strongly migratory, wintering in northeast Africa, the Middle East, and
India.
Extremely rare vagrant to North America, with a sighting on St. Lawrence
Island in the Bering Sea. Rather plain plumage, could possibly be
confused with a number of similarly dull-plumaged birds.
