No. 13. Chats and Starts
Stonechats, Whinchats and Redstarts (Note: Click on photos to enlarge the image) One of the pleasures of autumn and winter in Cyprus for anyone interested in birds is the influx of the Chats and Redstarts. When I was in the UK I only ever saw Stonechats and Whinchats on the rare occasions when I was on Scottish moors or Welsh/ English heaths, so I am always pleased to see the arrival of these colourful little birds at the back end of the year in Cyprus, as they make their southerly migration to their African winter locations. Male Whinchat, showing distinct white eye-stripe The Whinchat and Stonechat are similar in appearance, both being approximately Robin sized. Both species like to perch in very exposed locations such as on the tops of single thistle stems, shrubs or bushes where they can be easily noticed against the sky. The colouring of the Whinchat shows off an orangey-buff breast and throat, mid to dark brown cheeks, and a whitish-buff rump. There is a very o...