Birds of Fox Hill: Common Chiffchaff

An infrequent series introducing some of the bird-life you will find in our woodland.

If you’re wandering through the woods and hear a rhythmic “chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff,” you’ve just heard one of our summer residents! The Common Chiffchaff is a tiny, 10cm bird that is heard far more frequently than seen. They are one of the UK’s most abundant warblers and you shouldn’t have to wait long to hear one in Fox Hill.

Traditionally, these birds are summer migrants, arriving from Africa or the Mediterranean in March and staying until October. However, because our winters are getting milder, some are choosing to stay all year round. We even get “winter tourists” visiting us from Scandinavia, so keep your eyes peeled and your ears open in the colder months, too!

Their Latin name, Phylloscopus collybita, basically means “leaf-explorer,” which is the perfect description. They spend their days hunting down minibeasts hidden deep in amongst the leaves, sometimes even snapping them right out of the air.

Unlike many birds that head for the mid to upper canopy, Chiffchaffs like to stay low. They build domed nests right on or near the ground, tucked away in thick grass, brambles or bracken.

The female usually lays six eggs and handles the 13-day incubation alone. Once the chicks hatch, the female does the heavy lifting with feeding, while the male takes on the role of “security guard,” fiercely defending their territory until the young are ready to fly (usually after about 14 days).

The next time you are out walking in Fox Hill listen out for the cheery metronome call of the little leaf exploring Chiffchaff.

Fun Fact!

Chiffchaff’s look so similar to their cousin, the Willow Warbler that experts didn’t even realize they were two different species until 1817!