[f. WHIN1 + CHAT sb.2] A small European bird, Pratincola rubetra, closely allied to the stonechat.
Also called locally furze-chat, gorse-chat.
1678. Ray, Willughbys 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.