Gould mentioned that the Lesser Whitethroat was first recorded by a clergyman, the Rev. J. Lightfoot, who saw it nesting at Bulstrode, Buckinghamshire.

Gould described the Lesser Whitethroat as 'particularly partial to plum and cherry trees, on which, if closely watched, it may be seen passing from branch to branch, and inquisitively searching beneath the leaves for aphids and other kinds of insects...'

The plant depicted is the Bird-cherry (Prunus avium).

DISTRIBUTION: Breeds Eurasia from British Isles east to west Siberia, northern Mongolia and Manchuria, south to Baltic countries, through to Iran. Winters from tropical east Africa east to India.

Marked fluctuations in numbers in Britain appear to be correlated to conditions, especially drought, in east Africa