[Daniel Philippe]

In this thread http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=131438 , the ID of a Phylloscopus Warbler photographed in Sichuan (very nice photo BTW) is discussed and everybody agree it is an Aberrant Bush-Warbler.

However Olsson et al. 2006 said that the race intricata of this species (the one thriving in Sichuan actually, the « Chinese Bush-Warbler ») as well as the Vietnamese oblita are more closely related to the vulcania group than to the other taxa in the flavolivacea group and should be treated as conspecific with C. vulcania.

In other words, if we follow Olsson the bird on the photo is a Sunda Bush-Warbler.

What do you think ?

[Richard Klim]

I've treated this taxon as Cettia vulcania intricata since Jan 2008. But it still surprises (worries?) me whenever I notice the English name 'Sunda Bush Warbler' in my Holarctic checklist!

Richard

[njlarsen]

One question: given that China Guy said this was a migrant that normally is not there. Can we therefore be certain about the picture depicting subspecies intricata?

Cheers
Niels

[Daniel Philippe]

Originally Posted by njlarsen

Can we therefore be certain about the picture depicting subspecies intricata?

Well, yes, I have been thinking about this possibility before posting my message, but C. flavolivacea (including races stresemanni, alexandri & weberi) is found south-west of Sichuan and if some birds certainly disperse in winter to reach the valleys, it seems unlikely big numbers would travel north-east that far.

On the other hand, birds of the race intricata which occur as far north as southern Shanxi, are going south in winter as far as northern Thailand, and Sichuan is on the way.

[njlarsen]

Thanks Daniel

Niels

[rockfowl]

Hi Folks,

Niels, not sure CG indicates that this bird is a migrant, if anything I would expect this to be a resident with some small altitudinal migration in winter and also probably the reason behind grouping...safety in numbers. Presumably therefore assume that this is indeed intricata as suspected though I personally couldn't rule out flavolivacea having no experience of it. You folk are obviously more on the ball than me, but as a regular visiting birder know Bradypterus tacsanowskius as Chinese Bush Warbler not any Cettia species?
With regards the relationship with Sunda Bush Warbler, I have no idea on the current thinking but am rather surprised that CG's dainty, 'phylloscopus' appearing waif can be directly related to this - http://orientalbirdimages.org/birdim...162&pagesize=1

Regards

Mark

[njlarsen]

Originally Posted by rockfowl

Hi Folks,

Niels, not sure CG indicates that this bird is a migrant, if anything I would expect this to be a resident with some small altitudinal migration in winter and also probably the reason behind grouping...safety in numbers. Presumably therefore assume that this is indeed intricata as suspected though I personally couldn't rule out flavolivacea having no experience of it. You folk are obviously more on the ball than me, but as a regular visiting birder know Bradypterus tacsanowskius as Chinese Bush Warbler not any Cettia species?
With regards the relationship with Sunda Bush Warbler, I have no idea on the current thinking but am rather surprised that CG's dainty, 'phylloscopus' appearing waif can be directly related to this - http://orientalbirdimages.org/birdim...162&pagesize=1

Regards

Mark

Mark, I wrote migrant from memory, and it indeed seems to be an over-interpretation of what CG really wrote. I reacted to the impression I had of CG not being used to this species but used to other Bush-Warblers. I have absolutely no personal experience with these species, not having visited any area between Egypt and Australia.

Cheers
Niels

[china guy]

Hi guys we're just back from a trip - so this thread has taken us by surprise. I suppose the next step in the identification debate is to go out and record the call of this bird.
We've been to the habitat twice and both times seen the bird in flocks - we dont normally see bush warblers flocking like this. Hopefully the birds will be around a third time.
We'll try as soon as possible to find the bird and make that recording
All the best
Sid and Meggie

[Daniel Philippe]

Originally Posted by rockfowl

With regards the relationship with Sunda Bush Warbler, I have no idea on the current thinking but am rather surprised that CG's dainty, 'phylloscopus' appearing waif can be directly related to this - http://orientalbirdimages.org/birdim...162&pagesize=1

Oreophila in NE Borneo is indeed very dark, but banksi in NW Borneo is even darker; one of the palest race is everetti in Timor with olive upperparts and whitish underparts; all other races are somehow in between.

Other photos of intricata (I think) are here : http://orientalbirdimages.org/search...ID=&pagesize=1
They are labelled C. flavolivacea only because the proposed split was not known at that time (I saw these birds in May 2000 with Tim and others).

[rockfowl]

Originally Posted by Daniel Philippe

.Other photos of intricata (I think) are here : http://orientalbirdimages.org/search...ID=&pagesize=1
They are labelled C. flavolivacea only because the proposed split was not known at that time (I saw these birds in May 2000 with Tim and others).

They do look more suggestive of intricata Daniel, more phylloscopus like with a shorter tailed appearance than those on Borneo..

Intrigued...

Mark

[Daniel Philippe]

Originally Posted by rockfowl

... know Bradypterus taczanowskius as Chinese Bush Warbler not any Cettia species?

Yes you are right, this is why I put this name into « », as intricata has no official name yet AFAIK. May be "Sichuan Bush-Warbler" then ?

[rockfowl]

Originally Posted by Daniel Philippe

Yes you are right, this is why I put this name into « », as intricata has no official name yet AFAIK. May be "Sichuan Bush-Warbler" then ?

Seems a very good suggestion!

[rockfowl]

Originally Posted by njlarsen

Mark, I wrote migrant from memory, and it indeed seems to be an over-interpretation of what CG really wrote. I reacted to the impression I had of CG not being used to this species but used to other Bush-Warblers. I have absolutely no personal experience with these species, not having visited any area between Egypt and Australia.

Cheers
Niels

No problem Niels, thought I'd missed something, even re-read the blog to check , and very good it is to. I have a feeling that these Sichuan birds are fairly resident with reference also to the Chinese Bird Report...altitudinal is the key...