Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca   [Linnaeus, 1758]

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Order: Passeriformes Family: Sylviidae
BTO Codes: LW, LESWH EURING No: 12740
Number in Britain: 64 thousand territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK: GREEN
European: Not a species of concern
Global: Least Concern ( Details )
Links to: Images   Videos   Sound  
Status in UK: (A)  Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies: curruca (BW), blythi (S) recorded in Britain (of 7 subsp. in the world)
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Length: 13 cm Wingspan: 18 cm Weight: M/F: 12 g    
Scientific name from: L.: silva=a wood and L.: curruca=a bird mentioned by Juvenal
World Distribution: BREEDS: Eurasia, WINTERS: tropical Africa east to India
Habitat: Woodland, scrub, semi-desert
Diet: Mostly invertebrates, also berries, nectar prior to spring migration
TitBit: This small, grey warbler is unique amongst British birds in that it migrates round the eastern side of the Mediterranean (rather than the more direct route through Gibraltar).  

Population and Distribution

Population Trend: Wider Countryside Report
Regional Trends: England   English Regions
Distribution: Atlas Maps    (Local Atlases)    BBS Maps
British Population Size:
    Summer: 64 thousand territories in 2000
    First Record: 1780
    Conservation Status: GREEN
   Previous Assessments: 2002-2007 GREEN     1996-2001 GREEN  
   Races of Concern: curruca GREEN
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    Common in: Reedbed
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
Average Day of First Arrival: 23 Apr
European Population Size:
    Summer: 2.8 to 4.8 million pairs   (Trend in Numbers)
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: Bern(III), Bonn(II)
Survey Results: BirdTrack

Breeding and Survival

Egg Size: 17 x 13 mm Egg Weight: 1.4 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records: 14   (more would be welcome!)
Clutch Size: 4 - 5 eggs 4.67 ± 0.64 (2 - 6) N = 209
Incubation: 11- 12 days 11.44 ± 1.10 (9.5 - 13.5) N = 209   by the: Male + Female
Fledging: 12 - 13days 11.73 ± 1.19 (9 - 13.5) N = 314 as: Altricial, naked
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid: 19 May (7 May - 27 Jun)
Number of Broods: 1(2)
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed: 2494 (Annual Totals)
Adult Survival: 0.329 ± 0.038       
Juvenile Survival: 0.355 (in First-Year)  
Age at First Breeding: 1 year Typical Lifespan: 2 years
Maximum Recorded Age: 9 years 0 months 2 days (set in 2008)
Summary of Ringing Recoveries       

Biometrics

Ring Size: A
Wing Length Adult: 65.5 ± 1.9 Range 63 - 69 mm, N =3078
Juvenile: 65.6 ± 1.7 63 - 68 mm, N =4634
Male: 65.8 ± 1.8 63 - 69 mm, N =848
Female: 65.0 ± 1.8 62 - 68 mm, N =694
Weight Adult: 11.44 ± 0.93 Range 10.20 - 13.10 g , N =2621
Juvenile: 11.75 ± 1.00 10.40 - 13.50 g , N =4146
Male: 11.25 ± 0.78 10.20 - 12.50 g , N =684
Female: 11.70 ± 1.00 10.30 - 13.50 g , N =574
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data

Other Names

 
Gaelic: Gealan-coille-beag Welsh: Llwydfron Fach
Danish: Gærdesanger Dutch: Braamsluiper
Finnish: Hernekerttu French: Fauvette babillarde
German: Klappergrasmücke Hungarian: Kis poszáta
Icelandic: Netlusöngvari Irish: Gilphíb Bheag
Italian: Bigiarella Norwegian: Møller
Polish: Piegza Portuguese: Papa-amoras-cinzento
Spanish: Curruca gavilana Swedish: Ärtsångare

For More Information...

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Wikipedia entry
BirdLife species page
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead