Stonechat

Small, dumpy chat with relatively short tail. In breeding season, male is handsome with black head, white on side on neck, dark back, reddish orange breast and pale underparts. Female and winter male have duller plumage. Often perches openly, flicking tail and announcing presence with harsh 'tchak' call, like two pebbles being knocked together. Scratchy, whitethroat-like is song sometimes delivered in flight but also from song perch.