I have t admit to being confused by this warbler seen in the Kyzylkum desert (Grid ref; 40.458, 63.005) relatively close to the Turkmenistan border (c170m asl). It kept to the tamarisks, as was a bit of a 'jigsaw bird', never really showing clearly.
It had a distinctly brownish cast, with no hint of green in the plumage and immediately reminded me of Mountain Chiffchaff, although I have only seen them in the Caucasus Mountains (P.lorenzii). With the photos taken, and the only ref there, namely the Helm guide 'Birds of Central Asia' the best fit appeared to be P.c.menzbieri.
However reading the paper Chiffchaffs in Iran and Armenia
and also other sources, it appears that menzbieri is greener, & cleaner on the underparts - not showing the 'vest' and pale throat that are a feature of the helm guide illustration. Also the range is questionable being too far north and east, but with apparently P. sindianus wintering at low level in this part of Uzbekistan.
Does anyone have any clues to the proper identification?
Many thanks
It had a distinctly brownish cast, with no hint of green in the plumage and immediately reminded me of Mountain Chiffchaff, although I have only seen them in the Caucasus Mountains (P.lorenzii). With the photos taken, and the only ref there, namely the Helm guide 'Birds of Central Asia' the best fit appeared to be P.c.menzbieri.
However reading the paper Chiffchaffs in Iran and Armenia
and also other sources, it appears that menzbieri is greener, & cleaner on the underparts - not showing the 'vest' and pale throat that are a feature of the helm guide illustration. Also the range is questionable being too far north and east, but with apparently P. sindianus wintering at low level in this part of Uzbekistan.
Does anyone have any clues to the proper identification?
Many thanks