THE CHIFFCHAFF

Whether you're watching small birds at your bird table, or birds of prey soaring hundreds of feet above your head, birds are everywhere. The most important thing to remember is to enjoy watching and listening.

Today we are going to get to know the CHIFFCHAFF

A dainty warbler named after its song. Chiffchaffs are increasingly taking advantage of the UK’s warming climate by staying here all year long.

WHAT DO CHIFFCHAFFS LOOK LIKE?

The chiffchaff is a dainty bird that is among our smallest. It is predominantly a green-brown colour with dark legs and a pale stripe above the eye.

WHAT DO CHIFFCHAFFS EAT?

The chiffchaff feeds on insects and invertebrates. Flies, gnats, midges and caterpillars form a large part of its diet. Seeds and berries may be taken in winter.

HOW DO CHIFFCHAFFS BREAD?

Chiffchaffs nest close to the ground in dense vegetation. Five to six eggs will normally be laid in May or June. The chicks will hatch after around two weeks and fledge two weeks later. Two broods may be raised each year.

WHERE DO CHIFFCHAFFS LIVE?

Chiffchaffs can be found in most of the UK in spring and summer, apart from the most mountainous areas of Scotland. The species lives in woodland, scrub, parks and gardens

DO CHIFFCHAFFS MIGRATE?

Most of the UK’s chiffchaffs are summer migrants, breeding here before flying to warmer climes in autumn. However, an increasing number of birds are now staying in the UK all year round. It’s thought this is due to the country’s warming climate, which means the birds can survive the winter here. Up to 1,000 birds are now thought to spend the whole year in the UK.

SIGNS & SPOTTING TIPS

Look for chiffchaffs flitting between tree branches on the hunt for insects. Listen out for its distinctive ‘chiffchaff chiffchaff’ song from February onwards, which earned the species its name.

THREATS & CONSERVATION

The chiffchaff is a common bird with more than one million breeding in the UK annually. This represents an increase of more than 100% since 1970. The UK’s warming climate is thought to be an important factor in this growth.

We hope you enjoyed this article or that it helped you learn something new

If you’d like to hear the chiffchaffs bird song you can do HERE