Phylloscopus sp., Bulgaria (1 Viewer)

[Birders Reports]

Hello to all,

Please, help us with the ID of this Phylloscopus observed on 29.05.2023, near Durankulak, NE Bulgaria.

Thank you!

 

[kuzeycem]

Isn't this the bird claimed as 'Radde's' earlier this year? I believe enough people have identified it as Willow.

 

[Birders Reports]

Isn't this the bird claimed as 'Radde's' earlier this year? I believe enough people have identified as Willow.

Yes, that bird it is, but no one replied after the additional ID points - white traces on GC and "spikes" on tips of PP/SS and TF.
I need opinions about these features.

 

[kuzeycem]

Those aren't 'ID points'. It has to do with the wear state of the bird; white primary tips are worn off so only isolated streaks of white remain.
Most Willow Warblers are usually fresh year-round but some are more worn like the subject birds. Shirihai & Svensson (2018) state these "might be aberrant or odd 2ndCY which have not performed a complete moult, but this might also be due to wintering habits and requires further study".

 

[Birders Reports]

Those aren't 'ID points'. It has to do with the wear state of the bird; white primary tips are worn off so only isolated streaks of white remain.
Most Willow Warblers are usually fresh year-round but some are more worn like the subject birds. Shirihai & Svensson (2018) state these "might be aberrant or odd 2ndCY which have not performed a complete moult, but this might also be due to wintering habits and requires further study".

Sounds OK, but Willow Warbler is without white primary/coverts tips/streaks, neither in fresh or (partly, odd) wear plumage stage.

 

[Birders Reports]

More white traces on wing coverts: