Best time to see: all year
Key facts
Handsome heathland bird, breeding along the Inner Thames
Habitat: generally heathland, but in Essex estuary marshland
Once common resident throughout Britain but now very localised, breeding mainly in the south and west
Recognition
Plump round-headed bird with black head in m, grey-brown in f; white rump and wing patches in flight; 12–13 cm
Perches openly on top of bushes or on wires, before pouncing on its prey on the ground
Move about in pairs all year, feeding mainly on insects, some worms and spiders
Lifecycle
Nest is a cup of moss, grass and hair close to ground
Usually two broods April to June; 5–6 light blue eggs, freckled brown
Once thought to be sedentary, they are now believed to move elsewhere for the winter, probably to other coastal sites
© Bill Varney
© Leslie Borg