Chiffchaff or Iberian Chiffchaff? El Clot, Gran Alacant, S. Costa Blanca, Spain. 23/10/2018. (1 Viewer)

[STreseder]

 

[Andy Hurley]

It has a bright yellow supercillium at the front, so that is a postive for Iberian. The legs dark, with the undersides of feet yellowish and the back is brownish, to my eyes, on the mantle and nape and bill base is not paricularly pale brown. May be late changing from it's Autumn/ Winter colours. Did you hear it's voice? The pp seems ok for Iberian, though difficult to judge.

 

[Butty]

May be late changing from it's Autumn/ Winter colours.

It's October.

 

[Andy Hurley]

It's October.

Oh dear, so it is

At least the thread is moving now...

 

[STreseder]

Great, thank you for this. Collins Guide distribution map for Iberian doesn't show this area but I don't think the birds look at the map.😊. I'm not good with lbj's. It was hunting in the giant reed, not vocalising, so no help there.

 

[Cettia]

Its (to my eyes) a straightforward collybita.
You can find some info on ibericus id (in English) here:

Iberian Chiffchaff identification: the state of the art — subalpinebirding

A compilation of pretty much everything we know about the identification of Iberian Chiffchaff. Focused on field views assessment of structure, plumage and moult, with a quick look through voices of pure and mixed singers.

subalpinebirding.com