BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



89 



Mbitctbroat. 



The Whitethroat {Sylvia cuierea, Bechstein) is a common 

 and widely distributed summer visitor to the British Isles, 

 and is also a summer visitant to most parts of Europe, 

 passing the winter in Southern Africa. The adult male 

 in nuptial plumage has the head and neck ashy-grey; 

 mantle, greyish-brown ; upper tail-coverts, ash-grey ; tail, 

 dark greyish-brown ; outermost tail-feathers, edged with 

 whitish ; the next pair tipped broadly with white ; wings, 

 brown ; secondaries, broadly margined with pale chestnut ; 

 throat and abdomen, white, tinged with vinous on breast ; 

 flanks, buff; irides, hazel; bill, dark brown; legs and feet, 

 pale brown. Length, about five inches. The adult female 

 shows no vinous tinge on breast, and the rest of the 

 plumage is duller. 



