Home PageBirds of Devon and Cornwall Stonechat  

Latin name - Saxicola torquata

A plump bird, slightly smaller than a Robin, with a short tail. The male is more colourful than the female especially in the breeding season when it sports a black head, orange-red breast and big white blobs on the sides of its neck. The head of the male moults after breeding with the new feathers having brownish tips; these wear away revealing a new black head in time for the next breeding season. Both sexes have brown upper-parts but the female does not have the black head, her breast is not so orange and her white patches are less distinct. The young are similar to the female but duller. They feed on insects, seeds and berries and can be found in coastal areas, gorse covered heath and conifer plantations.

Stonechat Stonechat Stonechat Stonechat Stonechat Stonechat
Stonechat Stonechat Stonechat