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Willow Warbler? Saltburn by the Sea, UK (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Reesyd
- Start date
Alexander Stöhr
Well-known member
Hello Rees,
presuming it is a recent picture (march 2024?), than its often good to start with a Chiffchaff and only then to think of a Willow Warbler. Or that you hear a song or a call? Or did you identify the bird as a Willow Warbler in the field? You know, I trust original observers more than a single picture.
Anyway, all dark and fine bill is better for a Chiffchaff, many WW have a slightly stronger one with a pale, sometimes even pale orangey base.
And surely biased by date, I find the dirty olive upperparts and ochre-yellowish hues on the breast better for a Chiffchaff.
And does your bird has a short pp? Yes, I think so, but its hard to be sure. Do you have more pictures?
As said, going only by the single picture and the date, I think its a Chiffchaff. But its hard to exclude a WW with 100% confidence, at least for me.
But its surely one of those two species imo
presuming it is a recent picture (march 2024?), than its often good to start with a Chiffchaff and only then to think of a Willow Warbler. Or that you hear a song or a call? Or did you identify the bird as a Willow Warbler in the field? You know, I trust original observers more than a single picture.
Anyway, all dark and fine bill is better for a Chiffchaff, many WW have a slightly stronger one with a pale, sometimes even pale orangey base.
And surely biased by date, I find the dirty olive upperparts and ochre-yellowish hues on the breast better for a Chiffchaff.
And does your bird has a short pp? Yes, I think so, but its hard to be sure. Do you have more pictures?
As said, going only by the single picture and the date, I think its a Chiffchaff. But its hard to exclude a WW with 100% confidence, at least for me.
But its surely one of those two species imo
Thank you.
Photo was taken today of 1 of 2 birds flitting around a hedgerow. Unfortunately, no song or call uttered in the 10 or so minutes I was observing them.
I have several additional pictures that may assist.
Kind Regards, Rees
Attachments
Bewick
Connoisseur of WTL
Agreed, chiffchaffs. Much less bright in the new pics, also dark legged and billed.
Short primaries (see especially pic 3 in 2nd batch) + dark legs ( + date) = chiffchaff.
Did you have reasons why you thought it might be a willow warbler? If you mention why at the outset, it helps people to address your specific ID problems directly. Also helps and saves time to give all the photos, and date, at the outset
Did you have reasons why you thought it might be a willow warbler? If you mention why at the outset, it helps people to address your specific ID problems directly. Also helps and saves time to give all the photos, and date, at the outset
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