whitethroat

[ hwahyt-throht, wahyt- ]

noun

1. any of several small songbirds having a throat that is white, especially an Old World warbler, Sylvia communis.
2. white-throated sparrow.

whitethroat

/ ˈwaɪtˌθrəʊt /

noun

1. either of two Old World warblers, Sylvia communis or S. curruca ( lesser whitethroat ), having a greyish-brown plumage with a white throat and underparts

Word History and Origins

Origin of whitethroat¹

First recorded in 1670–80; white + throat

Example Sentences

Every day, people visit by the thousand: runners, outdoor swimmers, tourists, bird-lovers on the trail of whitethroats and blackcaps in the bushes or goldfinches and kestrels in the trees.

From The Guardian

Various species including the Eurasian skylark and the common whitethroat have seen their numbers decline by a third over the past 15 years, while the number of partridges has slumped by 80 percent.

From Reuters

Peggy, peg′i, n. one of several small warblers, the whitethroat, &c.

From Project Gutenberg

A Canada whitethroat called sweetly, sadly, from the forest in the sunset glow.

From Project Gutenberg

Scientists in Italy have found that European songbirds, such as the whitethroat pictured here, drink flower nectar whilst on island "rest-stops" along their migration routes from Africa.

From BBC