Help with an ACRO warbler .. Ethiopia (1 Viewer)

Dear all. Please I need help in identifying this warbler. I pictured it in ethiopia , and I am confused between lesser swamp and african reed warbler , knowing that I pictured it neither near a swamp nor near reeds. I found it in one of the garden trees near my room. Any ideas ??Thanks

Looks good for a thursh nightingale to me. Good to see they're on the way, most of our migrants seem late down here...

Agree with Thrush Nightingale (more likely than Catharus thrush ;-))

Hi vallery and TZBIRDER.

Thanks very much. I didnt know why I fell in this mistake , since I previously saw two times thrush nightgales , but they were much more compact , and the shape differs from this one. Thanks again.

Hello Bassel!

I took the liberty to upload one of your image and I have annotated it.

One feature that rules all the African Acro out is the very long primary projection, which points towards a long distance migrant.
Some Palearctic Acro may show a comparable primary projection but they are readily dismissed by the relatively short and stout bill. Dirty underparts and malar stripe don't fit any Acro (nor Common Nightingale).
River warbler is eliminated by the white undertail coverts and the lack of clear breast streaking. Also RW's behaviour is very different.
Finally Common Nightingale would be typically warmer toned (especially the rump), here, only the tail shows a reddish cast, typical of Thrush Nightingale.


River Warbler (note wing shape, undertail coverts, long bill):
- http://www.israbirding.com/reports/monthly_summaries/may_05/

Common Nightingale:
- http://www.tarsiger.com/gallery/index.php?pic_id=Tenovuo1211142280&lang=eng
- ssp hafizi http://www.pbase.com/yoavpe/image/109495884

Thrush Nightingale:
- http://www.hawar-islands.com/blog/14_stub.php/2008/04/

Thanks very much TIB for the really valuable info. Actually for me to start being good in distinguishing ACRO warblers , I should see these warblers at least in moderate numbers. But still now I didnt have enough experience in this difficult group , hoping that your info will guide me to a better identifying of these warblers.