Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)

Stonechats are an architypal bird of heathland and moorland but do not breed on Hartlebury Common. They can however be encountered most years during Spring and Autumn migration periods when these Robin sized birds perch up in prominant positions on top of Gorse bushes and flicking up and down to ground to feed on insects.  The male Stonechat has a black head with white on the side of it’s neck, an orange-red breast and a mottled brown back.  A females Stonechat lacks the black head, but still has a brown back and an orange tinge to it’s  chest.   Stonechats can often be heard contact calling which sounds reminiscent of two pebbles being tapped together.  It is this stone clicking sound for which they are named.  A Stonechat’s song can be heard by following the below link:

Stonechat Song