[johno147uk]

These two shots were taken on the same bush/shrub photo ab1 was taken yesterday and posted on here for ID the general consensus was Reed Warbler. Photo ab2 was taken today and posted on here for ID the general consensus is Common Whitethroat. I am confused can you please check the birds for me and re-ID, it is important to me as i have never seen a whitethroat. All photos taken in Leigh Lancashire. Thank you for your help

[Simon Wates]

Both shots definitely female/imm Whitethroat

[johno147uk]

Originally Posted by Simon Wates

Both shots definitely female/imm Whitethroat

Yes please let it be i have been looking all year...

[johno147uk]

Can i take it at least one is a Whitethroat

Steve

[Stuart Darbyshire]

the left hand bird is a reed warbler

[Simon Wates]

Originally Posted by Stuart Darbyshire

the left hand bird is a reed warbler

Can't see that - only a Whitethroat.

Can't some more f you come say something and put Johno's mind at rest?

[johno147uk]

Originally Posted by Simon Wates

Can't see that - only a Whitethroat.

Can't some more f you come say something and put Johno's mind at rest?

Thanks Simon. Also posted this on another id site and i am having the same issues

[Stuart Darbyshire]

Originally Posted by Simon Wates

Can't see that - only a Whitethroat.

Can't some more f you come say something and put Johno's mind at rest?

another pic of the same bird in this thread

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread....25#post2517425

[Simon Wates]

Originally Posted by Stuart Darbyshire

another pic of the same bird in this thread

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread....25#post2517425

Stuart, thanks for the link - I've just posted on that thread.

The bird in question is still clearly a Whitethroat to me (or I'm going absolutely barmy). I know a few experienced birders have called it a Reed Warbler but I believe that it wasn't looked at long enough (maybe a case of "mass" hallucination?).

Just the head and bill structure alone clinches a Sylvia warbler - the bill is far too short, eye ring too pronounced and UTCs too short for Reed Warbler. Also, the bird seems to show white outer tail coverts and shows at typical if rather worn tertial pattern for a female Whitethroat (Oh..and the white throat looks too demarcated for Reed). Wrong shape for Reed for me too.

I wouldn't normally step boldly out against the consensus but on this occasion I think the original ID was a bit too hasty.

Simon

[Stuart Darbyshire]

Originally Posted by Simon Wates

Stuart, thanks for the link - I've just posted on that thread.

The bird in question is still clearly a Whitethroat to me (or I'm going absolutely barmy). I know a few experienced birders have called it a Reed Warbler but I believe that it wasn't looked at long enough (maybe a case of "mass" hallucination?).

Just the head and bill structure alone clinches a Sylvia warbler - the bill is far too short, eye ring too pronounced and UTCs too short for Reed Warbler. Also, the bird seems to show white outer tail coverts and shows at typical if rather worn tertial pattern for a female Whitethroat (Oh..and the white throat looks too demarcated for Reed). Wrong shape for Reed for me too.

I wouldn't normally step boldly out against the consensus but on this occasion I think the original ID was a bit too hasty.

Simon

maybe I'm going barmy too - I'm fixated on Reed

similar bird - http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/sho...p?photo=416548

[Simon Wates]

No Stuart - just me I think!

Apologies to Johno - hope you get your Whitethroat soon, I would have thought that lots will be moving very soon....so

[johno147uk]

|I'm getting so confused . can someone take me on their patch and show me a Whitethroat, A adult male so there's no confusion. I have been looking all year for a Whitethroat because i have never seen one.

[knotsbirder]

The one on the right is still a Whitethroat Johno!

Sam

[Simon Wates]

Originally Posted by knotsbirder

The one on the right is still a Whitethroat Johno!

Sam

Yes, my mislead! Got the 2 threads mixed up

[lou salomon]

you got your whitethroat, johno. take these two birds: left one, as said is a reed warbler, right one a common whitethroat. of course little brown jobs (LBJs) are hard and look very similar at the beginning. and i remember a couple of threads going on for many pages in disagreement. one of the best ways to tell them part (this goes also for telling apart acrocephalus from sylvia warbler in general) is bill shape.
acrocephalus means pointed headed in greek - and acros indeed have long pointed bills while sylvias usually have more robust and proportionally shorter bills. also colour is different: in most acros all upper bill dark and lower mandible pale (some sp. having some dark near tip, but not in reed warbler), in sylvias usually extended pale fleshy coloured on lower mandible with large dark tip, pale base sometimes extended on upper mandible.

compare on netfugl some pics of these two and you might get what i want to tell about bill. of course there are many other traits...

reed warbler: http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?i...species_id=662
common whitethroat: http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?i...species_id=687

cheers

[johno147uk]

Great everyone thanks for all the help.... Right,,,,, now I'm off looking for Lesser Whitethroat. in my dreams......

[LowellMills]

Hi Johno,

Glad you got your Whitethroat. Have you looked into trying to learn some common bird songs/calls? With warblers it can be particularly helpful to have this 'radar' as they are much more diverse in sound than appearance. Lesser Whitethroat is for instance much easier to find and I.D. with the call/song in mind. Happy hunting!