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Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
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
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)
.
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:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
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
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
Bern(III), Bonn(II)
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
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:
7yr 0m
(Latvia: 7yr 7m)
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...
Books and Monographs:
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See Also:
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