whinchat
(ˈhwɪntʃæt)
[f. whin1 + chat n.2]
A small European bird, Pratincola rubetra, closely allied to the stonechat.
Also called locally furze-chat, gorse-chat.
| 1678 Ray Willughby's Ornith. 234 The Whin-chat,..In bigness it scarce exceeds a Wagtail... The Anthus or Florus of Aristotle..differs from our Whin-chat in the colour of its Bill, and in the place where it lives; sith our Chat abides especially in heaths, and among Furze-bushes. c 1775 G. White Selborne, To Pennant xli. (1789) 107 How the wheat-ear and whin-chat support themselves in winter cannot be so easily ascertained, since they spend their time on wild heaths and warrens. 1843 Penny Cycl. XXVII. 324/1 The flight of the Whinchat is undulating. 1894 R. B. Sharpe Handbk. Birds Gt. Brit. I. 300 As in Great Britain, the Whinchat is a summer visitor to most parts of Europe. |