possibly zitting cisticola? (Thessaloniki, Greece) (1 Viewer)

[Dimitra_v]

I took a picture of this bird at a marsh yesterday. I am not sure about zitting cisticola, I think it looks too dark (may be the bad lighting, it was a cloudy day) and too chunky. But then again I dont know any passerines with a clear, unspotted chest, that would match the wing pattern and habitat. I think this bird's tail looks right for a zitting cisticola (visible in the last 2 pics), and the brown chest on the sides, also the head feathers on the top are slighlty raised (moslty 1st picture), but what doesnt sit right with me is that it looks overall darker (again, may be because of lighting) than the average zitting cisticola and how it doesnt have the slim look (but is was a cold day so I dont blame it for looking like that)
The bill is very much visible in the last picture, and is slim, like a cisticola
Maybe I am overthinking this, but it is because its an uncommon bird here and I dont want to overlook it incase it is what I suspect!

 

[Butty]

I am not sure about zitting cisticola

Looks fine.

 

[Dimitra_v]

Looks fine.

looks fine for the species I suggested? I am sorry i didnt understand your reply

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Yes, thats what Butty says, I am sure (its the common/normal term used to agree with Id here). I agree with you and Butty that its a Zitting cisticola, just wanted to add that you should be more confident in your identification skills and experience. Most similar Sege Warbler often has darker or brownish flesh legs and a more contrasting head pattern and a longer pp, Moustached Warbler has darker legs and a distinct whitish supercilium.

 

[Butty]

looks fine for the species I suggested?

 

[Dimitra_v]

Yes, thats what Butty says, I am sure (its the common/normal term used to agree with Id here. Its a Zitting cisticola for me too, just wanted to add that you should be more confident in your identification skills and experience. Most vsimilar Sege Warbler often has darker or brownish flesh legs and a more contrasting head pattern and a longer pp, Moustached Warbler has darker legs and a distinct whitish supercilium.

okay, thanks for the clarification, I am not here that often... I ruled out moustaches warbler because of the eyestripe like you said, and I just looked up sage warbler and didnt find any past reports in the area. thank you for replying to all my posts today as well, because i've spammed a lot of birds haha

 

[Deb Burhinus]

sage warbler

Alex means ‘Sedge Warbler’ (typo)

 

[Butty]

I ruled out moustaches warbler because of the eyestripe like you said, and I just looked up sage warbler...

Both those have a huge supercilium. Your bird doesn't have one at all.

 

[Dimitra_v]

Alex means ‘Sedge Warbler’ (typo)

no reports of sedge either... I looked up sage and I just didnt find anything at all lol i didnt even think of it being a typo, I am bad with english bird names

 

[Deb Burhinus]

no reports of sedge either... I looked up sage and I just didnt find anything at all lol i didnt even think of it being a typo, I am bad with english bird names

Apologies Dimitra - I am usually the first to say we should use the latin instead of the vernacular for non-native English speakers - it just takes longer to type (to check spelling) and then to put into italics!

Sedge Warbler: Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Buteo buteo, Bubo bubo or Pica pica is much easier of course 😁