small migratory bird breeding europe western asia central africa time considered family placed family sexes strong brownish upper parts darker pale throat breast pale buff whitish belly tail white bases outer tail feathers breeding season male orange buff throat breast solitary species favouring open grassy country rough vegetation scattered small shrubs elevated locations ready insects small invertebrates form diet nest built female ground coarse vegetation clutch seven eggs laid eggs thirteen days parents feed takes place eighteen days hatching parents continue feed young fortnight takes place late summer migration southwards grounds africa migration northwards spring common species wide range classified concern taxonomy species represents fairly basal divergence genus retains found lost derived species european african species considered member family placed family similar like species called scientific means small rock reference habitat derives latin rock dwelling latin term small bird subspecies recognised rarely occurs case reported finland reported european western southern europe description short tailed bird moving ground small rapid frequently wings tail similar size relative european robin long weighing sexes brownish darker buff throat breast pale buff whitish belly tail white bases outer tail feathers male breeding plumage face mask encircled strong white stripe bright orange buff throat breast small white wing patches greater inner median female overall particular having face mask pale brown breast buff stripe smaller white wing patches males immature winter plumage similar females adult males retain white wing patches year round fairly similar females european readily distinguished conspicuous belly western europe paler overall western european subspecies differs structurally slightly having longer adaptation long distance migration easily confused female immature long distance shares longer distinguished conspicuous unmarked pale orange buff brown colour main described softer european contact birds predator male soft song breeding season consisting mixture soft sounds including phrases songs bird species sings fence bush tree wire occasionally ground flight april july grounds gives alarm calls occasionally sings likely end winter starting spring migration distribution habitat migratory species breeding europe western asia ireland northern portugal east basin near northern norway south central spain central italy northern greece birds arrive breeding grounds end april mid depart mid august mid september odd birds lingering october winter primarily tropical sub africa kenya south arriving western africa start dry season late september november leaving february march small numbers winter northwestern africa morocco northern algeria tunisia reached northwest breeding range iceland west migration cape_verde south range northern south_africa behaviour ecology largely solitary bird form small family groups autumn rough low vegetation habitats open rough pasture similar cultivated grassland scattered small shrubs heather stands rock ground commonly inhabits new clear plantations new tree crop years old metre tall needs points shrubs tall fence posts scan food use song posts breeding takes place late april nest built solely female dried grasses moss lined hairs fine built ground hidden dense low vegetation foot bush female lays clutch seven eggs hatch fourteen days parents bring food young leave nest fourteen days later young fly chicks seventeen nineteen days hatching remain largely dependent parents weeks short lived typically surviving years maximum recorded years wild breeding starts birds year old predators include small nest predators nests lost agricultural operations cutting main factor species decline western europe livestock common feeding largely insects consume wide range invertebrates including spiders small worms eat small amounts fruit primarily autumn birds like perch elevated spots shrubs catch insects taken ground flying insects males particular frequently flick tail wings white tail wing flashes display territorial communication signals adult single complex complete late summer late july onward breeding mainly completed southbound migration juveniles partial time growing new body retaining flight feathers ages partial early spring grounds northbound migration status conservation fairly common wide range classified species concern populations decline particularly west range britain ireland france belgium netherlands denmark germany primarily agricultural intensification britain amber listed unfavourable conservation status disappeared lowland breeding areas south east surveys remaining common areas north west low intensity livestock main land use similar decline ireland classified rare
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