Passeriformes / Sylviidae / Curruca
Lesser Whitethroat
Curruca curruca · 白喉林莺
Introduction
A small Old World warbler in the genus Curruca, breeding in temperate Europe (excluding the southwest) and the western and central Palearctic. It is strongly migratory, wintering in Africa south of the Sahara, Arabia, and India. Distinctive traits include a grey head with a dark 'bandit mask' through the eyes and a white throat. The sexes are almost identical.
Description
Small passerine with a grey back, whitish underparts, a grey head featuring a darker 'bandit mask' through the eyes, and a white throat. Slightly smaller than the common whitethroat. Lacks chestnut wings and uniform head-face colour found in similar species. Six subspecies are accepted, with variations such as C. c. blythi having a paler crown top separated from face sides by a white supercilium.
Identification
Key marks include the grey head, dark eye mask, and white throat. Distinguished from the common whitethroat by smaller size, lack of chestnut wing patches, and different head-face colour pattern. Flight style and vocal cues differ; the song is a fast, rattling sequence of tet or che calls, unlike the scolding song of the common whitethroat.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds in temperate Europe (except southwest) and western/central Palearctic. Winters in Africa just south of the Sahara, Arabia, and India. Subspecies include C. c. curruca (western range), C. c. blythi (eastern range), C. c. halimodendri (SE Russia to NW Mongolia), C. c. althaea (Iran to central Asia), C. c. minula (southern Kazakhstan to western China), and C. c. margelanica (northern China). Intergradation occurs in Central Europe and Asia.
Behavior & Ecology
Insectivorous, also consuming berries and soft fruit. Inhabits open country and cultivation areas with large bushes for nesting and some trees. Nests are built in low shrubs or brambles. Clutch size consists of 3 to 7 eggs.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Sylviidae
- Genus
- Curruca
Taxonomy Changes
Curruca minula → Curruca curruca
Subspecies lump — GBIF Backbone Taxonomy uses the former name; AviList 2025 uses the current name.
Sylvia curruca → Curruca curruca
Genus transfer — GBIF Backbone Taxonomy uses the former name; AviList 2025 uses the current name.
Sylvia margelanica → Curruca curruca
GENUS_TRANSFER_AND_LUMP — GBIF Backbone Taxonomy uses the former name; AviList 2025 uses the current name.
Sylvia minula → Curruca curruca
GENUS_TRANSFER_AND_LUMP — GBIF Backbone Taxonomy uses the former name; AviList 2025 uses the current name.
Subspecies (6)
-
Curruca curruca althaea
breeds mountains of eastern Iran to Afghanistan and northern India; winters to southern India
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.
