Chiffchaff

The chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) is a member of the warbler family, being similar in appearance to the willow warbler but less brightly coloured. It is resident in southern England, south Wales and the far south of Ireland but is only a summer visitor in other parts of the UK. It is seen only very rarely in northern Scotland. Outside the UK, chiffchaffs are found throughout Europe, with the Mediterranean region being a typical area for wintering. The range is from north Africa to northern Siberia.


Appearance and behaviour

The chiffchaff is about 11 centimetres long (a little over 4 inches). It has olive-brown upperparts and buff underparts, although the colouring changes as the year advances, with the back becoming browner and the chest whiter in the summer. Like all warblers, the chiffchaff has a pronounced marking above the eye from front to back, known as a supercillium, the line being light yellow in this case. Males and females have similar plumage.

The chiffchaff takes its name from its song, which is a constant repetition of “chiff” and “chaff”, although it also has a strong call of “hweet”.

The chiffchaff is typically found in lowland woodland and in parks and gardens that are well supplied with trees. It spends most of its time in the trees, flitting from branch to branch, flicking its wings and wagging its tail. It feeds mainly on insects, which it either finds on tree trunks and branches or takes from the air.


Breeding

Despite being a tree dweller, the chiffchaff nests on the ground. The nest is a domed enclosed structure of leaves and grass that is well camouflaged and entered via a small side opening. The female does all the nest building herself, and she also does nearly all the incubating of the eggs and raising of the chicks.

The clutch, laid between May and July, consists of six or seven eggs that take around 14 days to hatch. The young stay in the nest for up to 15 days, after which they remain close to the nest and are still fed by their parents for a short while longer. As well as insects, the chicks are fed on larvae and spiders. A second brood may be raised.

Non-resident birds will leave for winter quarters around late September, although departure can be as late as November if conditions permit.

© John Welford