Help with identification - some kind of warbler? (1 Viewer)

[Scyza]

Some kind of warbler? Germany

Hello,

could someone please help me identify this bird, seen in northern Germany in May.

http://scyza.dnaut.com/identify-bird01.jpg
http://scyza.dnaut.com/identify-bird02.jpg
http://scyza.dnaut.com/identify-bird03.jpg

Sorry for the bad images, I hope they are good enough to identify this little guy.

I keep seeing them all the time but I am never sure what exactly they are. There are several birds in my guide that look like this and they all seem to look extremely similar and I just cannot tell them apart!

Any help would be appreciated

Stefanie

 

[Kingfisher21]

It's a chiffchaff. Or Zilpzalp in German.

 

[Scyza]

Thank you Sandra!

Is there any sure way to tell these guys apart? I am having problems with Chiffchaffs and all those different kinds of warblers. They're all on the same page in my guide and I can't see any difference!

Stefanie

 

[stonechat1]

Which book do you have, Stefanie?

Regards,
Roman

 

[Scyza]

This one:

http://www.amazon.de/Was-fliegt-den...5327/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1338747679&sr=8-3

I know it's not the best book, it doesn't have drawings, only photographs. The photographs are not very helpful for birds that look so similar.

Stefanie

 

[stonechat1]

Try to get:
http://www.amazon.de/Der-Kosmos-Vog...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338748231&sr=1-1

There is once sure an occasion (birthday, christmas,..). I know the "Was fliegt den da" serial from my youth, then with drawings. But the book which I recomand has much more information in the text on what to look at identifing birds. You´ll not regret it, that´s sure.

 

[Jaysan]

Hello,

Sorry for the bad images, I hope they are good enough to identify this little guy.

Stefanie

Hi Stefanie,

You may wish to have a look at the you tube video by BTO on chffchaff and willow warbler. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wixRxZ94dMc

By the way, the images were great.

Jaysan

 

[Jane Turner]

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=15579

An old thread which explains the differences with pictures

 

[Scyza]

Thank you all for your answers! I'm gonna have a closer look at that thread when I get home from work. Good to see I'm not the only one who can't tell those guys apart haha

I'm also going to get a bird guide with drawings now instead of photographs. I'm wondering though... I wanted to buy the German "Kosmos Vogelführer" which is by Lars Svensson. Now I stumbled upon the English "Collins Bird Guide" which is also by Lars Svensson and has excellent ratings (and is only half the price of the German guide!).

I'm wondering, are these books the same, since they have both been written by the same guy? They even have exactly the same number of pages according to amazon.

I suppose I can't really go wrong with the Collins Bird guide?

 

[HH75]

The two books are certainly the same, one in English, one in German.

 

[Scyza]

Thanks for confirming this, Harry! I'll go with the English version then to save some money haha!

I've taken a look at the other thread now and the video too - the video in particular was very helpful, I hope I'll be able to better tell them apart now in the field! I really need to learn to pay more attention to the calls and songs instead of relying mostly on physical appearance (had the same problem with marsh and willow tits - what the hell, those things look exactly the same!)

Stefanie

 

[stonechat1]

Thanks for confirming this, Harry! I'll go with the English version then to save some money haha!
[...]
Stefanie

Then you should read this thread very carefully:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=162758&highlight=collins

And keep in mind that the Collin´s is appointed to the UK, AFAIK.
Good reading then o

Roman

 

[Scyza]

Hello Roman,

the Collins Guide does seem to be the same book though as the Kosmos Vogelführer, only English language..?

Or did they correct the mistakes listed in the other thread for the German version?

That the book is directed at the UK shouldn't be a problem, I don't think the bird life of the UK is that much different from Northern Germany, where I live. And the book does cover all of Europe, so should be fine hopefully |=)|

Stefanie

 

[stonechat1]

Hi Stefanie,
that´s correct its the same book.
I guess you are German so why you want buy this book in a foreign language?
I can´t understand it, just because of the price?

The book covers all species from Europe but the information about the rarity status is regarded to UK birders.

Collins Bird Guide (english edition, paperback):
19,90 € from http://bit.ly/NM7Mqf
Collins Bird Guide (english edition, hardback)
21,95 € from http://amzn.to/LniwNb
Collins Bird Guide (english edition, paperback)
16,95 € from http://amzn.to/LzHg1i
Der Kosmos Vogelführer (german edition, hardback only):
29,95 € from http://amzn.to/LdwNd6

When you are looking at the subsellers at amazondotde you will see that they all try do reject the english version with low prices AFAP. Why? Because of the errors!

It´s your choice!

Regards,
Roman

 

[Scyza]

I'm German, yes, but I don't mind reading English books, it's not a problem for me. Actually I even prefer English over German usually (which is why I am in this forum and not a German one).

I don't like that the German version is hardback... I like paperback better. The price plays a role, too, because I don't see why I should pay twice as much just for a translation. However if the language isn't the only difference I'll have to see if I want to keep the book or get the German one instead - amazon has been fast as usual and already sent the book on its way. I'll just take a look and decide whether I want to keep it or not.

In any case, thank you for the information! When the book is delivered I'll check whether it has all those mistakes listed in the thread.

Stefanie

 

[Scyza]

The guide was delivered today and I checked it for errors - those errors from the other thread do not seem to be in the book. I'm quite happy with it and I'm going to keep it |=)|

Stefanie

 

[stonechat1]

Great news, Stefanie!
Roman

 

[colonelboris]

I remember looking at the German language version when I lived in Switzerland (and the French one, too) and wondering why they were only in hardback. I've got the Barthel and Dougalis Was fliegt denn da?, which isn't bad, but has some odd names that no-one else uses. However it is one of the lightest European field guides.
There is a translation guide available based on the Collins Bird Guide that goes from English to French, German and Dutch, but I couldn't possibly say who wrote it. Based on the first edition, though. Might get round to an updated 2nd edition when I move back to Europe later this year, although the rise of smart phones has probably killed the need for such a guide pretty effectively.