The European stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) utters a sharp loud call that sounds like two stones being tapped together, hence its name. The name stone-chack was originally attributed to the wheatear because it perched on moorland stones while uttering it's chat call. In the late 18th century, the stone-chatterer became stone-chatt - and then, finally, stonechat. It is a small robin-sized passerine bird. Males have striking black heads and orange-red breasts. Females lack the male's black head, but have an orange tinge to their chests. It really likes to be seen, perching on top of branches and bushes. It frequents sparsely vegetated areas such as moors, open pasture land and marsh type habitats.
