Phylloscopus Warbler ID from Pakistan (1 Viewer)

[Azan Khan]

Hi everyone. I'm posting these photos for ID on behalf of a friend with his permission. Is this Green Warbler or Greenish Warbler? It was clicked at Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan on 23 April, 2021. Both species are known to occur in Pakistan. Please do share some ID pointers too if that's okay. Much thanks

 

[KenM]

Even allowing for the the light reflections onto the underparts from the surrounding leafage (subtle washes of yellow and mossy green to the upperparts), I’m favouring Green Warbler over Greenish for this bird. However other opinions should be forthcoming to be considered for such a tricky ID even with such excellent images provided.

Cheers

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

This is not straightforward Azan, the birds appearance differs significantly between the two sets of images i.e they are contradictory; the levels of green/yellow saturation are clearly greater in the last 2 (3/3 and 4/4). That said, and based largely on its appearance in 1/4 and 2/4, I would suggest its a Greenish, though not unequivocally; its superficial appearance to Green in the final 2 images being strongly influenced by reflected light. The bird will be in very fresh plumage having already just completed its pre-breeding moult so, why no strong yellow suffusion to the supercilium, face, throat and breast (1/4 & 2/4?)? Looking at the last 2 images, the supercilium does not terminate at the bill base, but continues and appears to form a distinct bridge above the bill, a pro-greenish feature.

Grahame