Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybita
This small, olive-brown warbler is best known for its repetitive “chiff-chaff” song. It has a short eye-stripe and dark legs, helping distinguish it from the similar Willow Warbler. On Lihou, you might notice them flitting through shrubs especially during migration. If one breaks into its distinctive call, identification becomes much easier!
- Habitat: Woodland edges, hedgerows, gardens; will pause in coastal scrub during passage
- When to See: Spring and autumn, with some birds occasionally overwintering in mild coastal areas
- Diet / Food: Insects (gnats, flies, caterpillars), spiders
- Length: ~10–11 cm
- Weight: ~6–9 g
- Wingspan: ~17–20 cm