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Difference between revisions of "Willow Warbler" - BirdForum Opus

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''[[Media:Phylloscopus trochilus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
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==References==
 
==References==
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug15}}#Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug16}}#Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
 
#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
 
#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
 
#British Garden Birds
 
#British Garden Birds

Revision as of 21:02, 28 August 2016

Photo by mali
Lakenheath Warren, England
Phylloscopus trochilus

Identification

11-12.5cm (4¼-5 in)

  • Greyish brown-green back,
  • Pale underparts, tinged yellow on throat and breast
  • Whitish supercillium
  • Thin brown bill
  • Brownish-pink or light brown legs

Juvenile and 1st Winter: much yellower supercillium and underparts

Similar Species

Chiffchaff on the left and Willow Warbler on the right
Photo by Steve G
Click on image to enlarge

See this discussion thread for differences between Common Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.

Distribution

Widespread and abundant in the northern half of the Region.

Breeds throughout the British Isles, Scandinavia and northern Russia south to central and south-east France, Switzerland and Austria, northern parts of Hungary and Romania and to about 50°N in Ukraine and Russia.

Leaves breeding areas in August-September, passage continuing until October, and winters in sub-Saharan Africa, returning mainly in April. Abundant on passage over most of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

Vagrants recorded on Iceland, the Azores and Cape Verde Islands, and in Alaska.

Photo by John W Clarkson
Bois Vert garden, Lot et Garonne, France, May 2015

Taxonomy

Subspecies

There are 3 subspecies[1]:

  • P. t. acredula: very similar to nominate but duller and paler below with much less yellow on underparts of juvenile.
  • P. t. trochilus:
  • P. t. yakutensis: drabber still, brown above and whitish below, occurs as a migrant in Region including Britain but other races can appear very similar.
  • Eastern Siberia (Taymyr Peninsula to Anadyr River); winters to southern Africa

Habitat

Open deciduous woodland, bushy areas, parks and gardens. Also in mixed forest and young conifer plantations, hedgerows and shelterbelts. On passage occurs in all types of habitat with trees and bushes.

Behaviour

Diet

The diet includes small insects and spiders and fruit and berries.

Breeding

The domed nest has a side entrance and is formed from grass, rotten wood, moss and roots, lined with feathers. It is placed on the ground amongst shrubs or long grass. The clutch consists of 3-9 smooth, glossy white eggs, speckled reddish-brown. The female incubates for around 13 days. Both adults feed the young, which fledge after about 13-16 days.

Vocalisation

<flashmp3>Phylloscopus trochilus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
  3. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
  4. British Garden Birds

Recommended Citation

External Links


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