Bird of the month 06/2005 Stonechat (Saxicola torquata) 13 cm. Stockier than Whinchat with shorter wings and rounder head without eye-stripe. Male in spring has black head with white patch on neck and wings and its back is dark brown back and has orange breast. At other times the male is much duller, but its head is still dark. Female lacks the black head and its white neck-patch is smaller and less characteristic. Her breast is pale orange and has a brown streaked back. Juveniles look like dull females but with spots on their breasts and backs. It eats mainly insects, flies, moths, caterpillars and ants. It has a characteristic song-flight, with very fast wing-beats it dances up and down over the same spot while it sings its short, rapid song. Habitat fairly common in Hungary and prefers open country with scattered bushes and other tall vegetation. | 
© Photo by Szabolcs Kókay |