Sylvia question (1 Viewer)

[maudoc]

Last week I was in Egypt, near at El Quesir.
In the desert, 3 Kms from the Red Sea coast, I find an Acacia... and one bird. I hope for any wheatear but it is "only" a Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis), in my opinion. But something doesn't run for me, so I take a lot of photo. I have a doubt it could be a Spectaled Warbler (S. conspicillata).
I ask two friends of mine. One says communis, the other one conspicillata.
Two other birders: one says "conspicillata, but bill is large"; second says "communis, but plumage is for conspicillata"...

so... I post!

tnx in advance

 

[Strontium Dog]

Lesser Whitethroat?

 

[stuart winter]

I would have thought the absence of any rufous tones on any of the exposed wing feathers would rule out Spectacled Warbler (S. conspicillata).
I wonder if it is possible that any of the Eastern races of Communis such as Icterops or Volgensis would be in Africa in late June? These races are greyer than Western Common Whitethroats and do pass through Israel in the early spring?

 

[gerdwichers8]

Hello, I would suggest a 1 summer male rubicola or perhaps still icterops Common Whitethroat. The age must have retarded its arrival in northern spheres.

 

[maudoc]

Lesser Whitethroat?

I don't think so. For example Lesser Whitethroat has black legs

tnx

 

[Howard King]

I would put this down as a common Whitethroat, - a lot of birds have been later than normal through here this year the same might apply to Egypt

 

[lulie]

any chance it could be a female sardinian warbler, they have pale legs and they are foud in egypt. Really not good with these warblers have to admit.

 

[Motmot]

Agree it's a Common Whitethroat, not Spectacled. Primary projection looks fairly short on last image but tertial design better for Common. Also bill size and general proportions look better for Common.

 

[KnockerNorton]

Male Common Whitethroat for me too. It's very worn and bleached (there's clearly faded rufous on the wings), but ditto what Motmot said.

 

[Jane Turner]

Looks good for icterops to me.