Siberian Chiffchaff

[muckspreader]

Having seen a Siberean Chiffchaff today at Slimbridge, Glostershire and hearing its distinctive call.Can any one tell me if its classed as a seperate species from Chiffchaff.
A Common chiffchaff was also present and a noticable difference was observed in plumage tones and leg colour.

[Andrew Whitehouse]

This old thread might provide some useful information on eastern Chiffchaffs:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=10092

[jeff]

Having seen a Siberean Chiffchaff today at Slimbridge, Glostershire and hearing its distinctive call.Can any one tell me if its classed as a seperate species from Chiffchaff.
A Common chiffchaff was also present and a noticable difference was observed in plumage tones and leg colour.

Just a race of chiffchaff (eastern?) i believe.

[gerdwichers8]

Can any one tell me if its classed as a seperate species from Chiffchaff.
A Common chiffchaff was also present and a noticable difference was observed in plumage tones and leg colour.

Though not a seperate species, it is for the keen birder not just the 'other' Chiffchaff. :t:
(and the next stage is that all 'other' Chiffs make it to 'must sees' again; this keeps on rolling!)

[JANJ]

Complicated with 'tristis' and the so called 'sub tristis' variant and we haven´t heard the last on the matter.

http://www.club300.de/articles/005_tristis/index.html

http://www.surfbirds.com/phorum/read.php?f=15&i=1936&t=1936

http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/articles/sib_chiff.htm

From British Birds: no 8 2005

Abstract:
The systematics and morphology of Common Chiffchaff [Phylloscopus collybita] of the Siberian subspecies tristis are much debated. Many putative [tristis] in Britain are distinctly pale and frequently attributed to [‘fulvescens’], a form initially described by Severtzov in 1873 from a series collected in Central Asia. Treatment of the taxonomy and appearance of [‘fulvescens’] is inconsistent. It is frequently presented as an ‘intergrade’ population resulting from unrestricted gene-flow between [tristis] and the North Fenno-Scandian and Russian race [abietinus] but this may not be the most appropriate interpretation.
This article reviews the variable treatment of [‘fulvescens’] in the literature, its differences from abietinus and east Siberian tristis and the conflicting results of research into its taxonomic status. Based on the information presented, the provenance and appearance of the pale, ‘grey-and-white’ [tristis]-like chiffchaffs reported in Britain are considered.

JanJ

[Motmot]

Also the freshly new HBW vol 11 still treats them as a subspecies .

[gareth_blockley]

On this subject does anyone know where i can hear a sib chiffchaff online? i have no idea how different they sound?

Also any other similar birds from europe that have different calls to brittish, or slightly rarer birds to britain like buntings and funny pipits etc

[JANJ]

On this subject does anyone know where i can hear a sib chiffchaff online? i have no idea how different they sound?

Also any other similar birds from europe that have different calls to brittish, or slightly rarer birds to britain like buntings and funny pipits etc

Try here and klick sound gallery.

http://www.dutchbirding.nl/

JanJ

[gareth_blockley]

Try here and klick sound gallery.

http://www.dutchbirding.nl/

JanJ

Thanks, i was wandering if they went chaffchiff instead?! LOL

I'll have a look at this later, very tempted now but i don't think i'll get away with playing bird calls at work!