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[England] Warbler? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter katastrofa
- Start date
wheatearlp
Well-known member
Looks more like a Yellow Wagtail to me.
Thanks! The white belly and thigh suggest Willow Warbler, rather?
I thought about that, but isn't the tail too short for a Wagtail?
wheatearlp
Well-known member
Yellow Wags haven't got a particularly long tail. On my phone the outer tail feathers look white.
KenM
Well-known member
After further scrutiny, and seeing the white outer tail margins, I believe you’re right!
Cheers
Valéry Schollaert
Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s
I think Willow Warbler was a better option. The "white outer tail margins" is a photo effect I think, no white on tail for me. Head pattern is wrong for the wagtail, tail is realy too short... etc.
I was looking at photos of Yellow Wagtails online, and the tails seems to be spread wider. But maybe it's selection bias.
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
The tail is bent away from the photographer, so it is longer than it looks in the photo, and too long for Willow Warbler; also too much contrast between the white under-tail coverts and black central tail feathers. So I'm with Yellow Wag.
First impression, without opening image was a wagtail. But when I did, head pattern was all wrong so must be a warbler!
Thanks all! I'll go 50/50 
Valéry Schollaert
Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s
Thanks all! I'll go 50/50
100% Phyllosc, some people are inconsiously influenced by the yellow colour of the bird and the open habitat.
SteveClifton
Well-known member
I'm only seeing a wagtail here. Compare the wing shape, especially the way it broadens along the trailing edge towards the tertials-very characteristic of a wagtail wing.
A phyllosc would have more compact and delicate proportions overall, as can be seen in the two images of a Willow Warbler in flight on the left. Wagtails have proportionately longer bodies, more substantial and longer bills etc. Tail length looks a perfect fit for Yellow wagtail.
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Valéry Schollaert
Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s
Nice comparison photo that proves, if needed, that op bird is a Willow Warbler. Shape, including wing proportions, and head pattern is diagnostic.
Compare especially with lower right bird in similar position how forearms and tail are both much longer in YW, as an easy start if any doubt remains.
Grahame Walbridge
Well-known member
Don't know why I have to repeat this since Killian has already made the point, but the wing point is 2=3=4 which rules out any phylloscopus let alone WW. WW has a wing point 3 (4 slightly shorter) or, 3=4, 2 being 4-7mm shorter.
And, contrary to what you are saying Valery, Steve's nice little montage proves beyond doubt that it's a Yellow Wagtail. Really, it's not that difficult!
Grahame
And, contrary to what you are saying Valery, Steve's nice little montage proves beyond doubt that it's a Yellow Wagtail. Really, it's not that difficult!
Grahame
Valéry Schollaert
Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s
Yes, the second photo proves me wrong with a long tail and white outer tail feathers
:eat: :-C
