alanc
Just an earthbound misfit
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Algarve Warbler, Portugal (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter alanc
- Start date
Iraq Babbler
Well-known member
Hello
Heavy shape and hue of yellow in the face with rather stout bill and noticeable short PP, would suggest Melodious Warbler.
Omar
Heavy shape and hue of yellow in the face with rather stout bill and noticeable short PP, would suggest Melodious Warbler.
Omar
Iraq Babbler
Well-known member
Similar to Pallida but crown and forehead are more sandy tone of with contrast with sup. Wing PP is relatively (average) longer than Pallida.
Omar
Simon Wates
Well-known member
Although Western Olivaceous breeds within about 20kms of the Algarve in Spain its not recorded annually.
So - this is a great record - if it is one, which I think it is (I.opaca) - although the apparent yellowish wash visible on the 3rd photo throws me off a little the broad bill base clinches it I think. Now, if its a reiseri - seems highly unlikely but can't remember the difference.
Hastiness! - now I'm worried if the bill base is simply missing feathering - so Melodious?
So - this is a great record - if it is one, which I think it is (I.opaca) - although the apparent yellowish wash visible on the 3rd photo throws me off a little the broad bill base clinches it I think. Now, if its a reiseri - seems highly unlikely but can't remember the difference.
Hastiness! - now I'm worried if the bill base is simply missing feathering - so Melodious?
Last edited:
Simon Wates
Well-known member
Thanks Eduardo - mind at rest now.
RafaelMatias
Unknown member
I agree with Melodious. Some juveniles are just like that. It can be confusing when you find one of them, but if that happens early enough in the season you might even be lucky enough to see the typically coloured parents feeding the paler offspring. I. opaca should not have any trace of yellow, and is clearly a rare (breeding) bird in Portugal which I've seen only 3 times before in nearly 25 years (of course in September anything can turn up anywhere).
Giroud Marc
Well-known member
A brown Melodious ? A young bird ?
The Melodious (adult or juvenile) is clearly a green bird. And at this time of year, a young bird is with a clean pattern with pale fringe on tertials...
So for me is certainly an Western Olivaceous warbler.
The Melodious (adult or juvenile) is clearly a green bird. And at this time of year, a young bird is with a clean pattern with pale fringe on tertials...
So for me is certainly an Western Olivaceous warbler.
Motmot
Eduardo Amengual
I don't think this bird is a juvenile, it looks much better for a worn adult bird to me. They do get brownish at the end of the summer due to heavy wear but most keep some yellow in face, throat, chest or breast sides. Strong sunshine helps make it look even browner.
Juveniles aren't 'green', they look mostly greyish-brown above with often just a faint yellowish hue to its face,throat and chest. In September they should look fresher plumaged than this bird afaik.
Juveniles aren't 'green', they look mostly greyish-brown above with often just a faint yellowish hue to its face,throat and chest. In September they should look fresher plumaged than this bird afaik.
Tib78
Well-known member
I agree on Melodious. And probably a worn adult rather than a juv (though I am not certain of that).
The harsh light has considerably affected the colour and the contrast, but the yellow hue to the underparts is there and the upperparts are more olive than brown, see edited pic. And since there is no green vegetation around, the yellow/olive tones must come from the plumage itself and not from reflection.
Besides the face pattern with completely pale lores is better for Melodious (WOW and EOW very often show a thin dark loral line that breaks the eye-ring). And structurally the relatively short tail fits Melodious; WOW has a slightly longer tail giving to the bird a more elongated shape.
Nice to see you on here Marc
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The harsh light has considerably affected the colour and the contrast, but the yellow hue to the underparts is there and the upperparts are more olive than brown, see edited pic. And since there is no green vegetation around, the yellow/olive tones must come from the plumage itself and not from reflection.
Besides the face pattern with completely pale lores is better for Melodious (WOW and EOW very often show a thin dark loral line that breaks the eye-ring). And structurally the relatively short tail fits Melodious; WOW has a slightly longer tail giving to the bird a more elongated shape.
Nice to see you on here Marc
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Simon Wates
Well-known member
Humbly I'd just like to add that WOW is one of my pet species (because they are a nice tricky and quite scarce warbler with a special habitat) and I see them quite a bit (in Spain). In the field it would quickly be one of those pale Melodious for me - that I see many of down here. I hate photos sometimes - I'd convinced myself that the yellow tones were artefacts - bad starting point!
Iraq Babbler
Well-known member
RafaelMatias
Unknown member
Sorry if I've thrown some confusion into the discussion regarding the bird's age. When I mentioned having seen juvs as pale as that bird (one brood, once) wasn't saying I had analysed the plumage of the OP bird and had it aged as a juv. Actually from the views I had I didn't made my mind re age, but unfortunately got both ideas linked on my post. Looking now carefully at the photos for feather abrasion I struggle a bit to be conclusive, but if I had to make my mind I'd agree with you and I'd say an adult as well. GC seem a bit worn as well, but not the clearest shots for evaluating abrasion IMO.
Still regarding the juvs I mentioned, this was many years ago (perhaps 1992) and of course I don't have photos. Relying only on my memory (which has known better days) I don't think they were as pale (or lacking so much in yellow) as this one. Very interesting bird.
Still regarding the juvs I mentioned, this was many years ago (perhaps 1992) and of course I don't have photos. Relying only on my memory (which has known better days) I don't think they were as pale (or lacking so much in yellow) as this one. Very interesting bird.
