Bird ID Course: Heathland

How to identify
Male stonechats have a black head, brown back, black throat with a white half-collar, and orange-red breast. Females and juveniles are paler. Darker than the similar whinchat, the stonechat does not have a pale eyestripe or pale patches at the base of the tail.

Did you know?
On heathland in the south of England, Dartford warblers can often be seen following stonechats around, perhaps catching the small insects that the larger bird disturbs.

How to identify
The Dartford warbler is a small, dark brown bird, with a long tail, a distinctive red eye-ring and a cherry-red breast. It is most often spotted warbling its rattly and scratchy song from the top of a gorse stem. At other times, its muted tones allows it to blend in with the woody heather and gorse.

Did you know?
When the UK's breeding population of Dartford warblers crashed in the 1960s, only 10 pairs remained. Today, there are about 3,200 pairs nesting on our lowland heaths.

How to identify
The hobby is an elegant little falcon, slate-grey above and pale below, with black streaks on the belly and brick-red 'trousers'. It has a white throat and cheeks, dark moustache and mask. With pointed wings, it looks like an over-sized swift in the air.

Did you know?
The popular table-top football game known as 'Subbuteo' got its name from the scientific name of the hobby, Falco subbuteo, because it was the designer's favourite bird.