Chiffchaff

The Chiffchaff is a small, olive-brown songbird best known for its distinctive two-note song: a repetitive "chiff-chaff" sound that gives the bird its name. It looks similar to the Willow Warbler but has darker legs and a less obvious pale stripe above the eye. This lively little bird often flicks its tail as it searches through leaves for insects and spiders. The Chiffchaff is a common summer visitor in much of Britain and Europe. More and more are now staying through the winter in southern England. It prefers the edges of woodlands, small woods, and places with tall trees and thick undergrowth. Often one of the first migrant birds to arrive in spring, its song signals the start of the new season from March onwards. Chiffchaffs are found across the UK during the breeding season, though they are less common in northern Scotland.