The Common Whitethroat (Curruca communis)

Here is a male performing his vertical “song flight” to mark his territory. That’s when he mimics other species non-stop. The ornithologist Seán Ronayne has recorded over 72 mimicked species within 79 recordings, which, beyond proving their amazing technical abilities, starts to depict their migration story. Through their encounters with other species along the way, we’re able to trace these incredible vocalists’ breeding routes through Europe, including Ireland, and their wintering routes back to sub-Saharan Africa, specifically Senegal.