Sylvia Warbler....? (1 Viewer)

[KenM]

Encountered this Sylvia warbler last week in Paphos, Cyprus...I'm thinking perhaps a 2nd calendar year bird, unsure of the sex...male? and as of yet am not totally convinced as to it's ID.

Although I only saw a single bird at any one time...there may well have been two birds, as some of the images seem to contradict, albeit the lighting and posturing may have contributed to any apparent ambiguity.

The default bird would be Subalpine Warbler....however I've only ever seen adult males before, and they are somewhat easier to ID in the UK, here in Cyprus....there are more options to consider.

cheers

 

[KGS]

#1-3 Sardinian Warbler
#4-5 Subalpine Warbler

 

[KenM]

#1-3 Sardinian Warbler
#4-5 Subalpine Warbler

The bird in images 1-3 was suffused with pink under-parts as on the other images.

Here's a Sardinian Warbler for comparison albeit an adult male, not a vestige of pink..just grey to the under-parts, also with a much darker head.

 

[KGS]

The bird in images 1-3 was suffused with pink under-parts as on the other images.

Here's a Sardinian Warbler for comparison albeit an adult male, not a vestige of pink..just grey to the under-parts, also with a much darker head.

Can't see the pink. Don't think it is a Menetries's due to the quite dusky flanks.

 

[ApusApus]

Can't see the pink. Don't think it is a Menetries's due to the quite dusky flanks.

Definitely not Menetries's and doesn't look right for Sardinian either! I'd plump for Subalpine based on these photos but the lighting's harsh and maybe distorting things!


Shane

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

Female Ruppell's Warbler; obvious white fringes to greater coverts and tertials.


Grahame

 

[KGS]

Female Ruppell's Warbler; obvious white fringes to greater coverts and tertials.


Grahame

OK, agreed

 

[andyb39]

Female Ruppell's Warbler; obvious white fringes to greater coverts and tertials.


Grahame

I always think they show a hint of the male's moustachial stripe too.

I presume the Subalpine is albistriata?

 

[KenM]

Female Ruppell's Warbler; obvious white fringes to greater coverts and tertials.


Grahame

I agree in principal to what you say regarding the above...but I'd have thought that a pastel pink wash to the under-parts (this can be seen if you darken the images) would have been beyond the remit for Ruppell's ?

Somewhat still confused.

cheers

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

I agree in principal to what you say regarding the above...but I'd have thought that a pastel pink wash to the under-parts (this can be seen if you darken the images) would have been beyond the remit for Ruppell's ?

Somewhat still confused.

cheers

Like these?

http://blogs.ornithologiki.gr/osa/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/IMG_9274.jpg

http://lamsdell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/cyprus-5-to-19-april-2014-part-2.html

You seem to be in a permanent state of confusion.

Grahame

 

[KenM]

[QUOTE

You seem to be in a permanent state of confusion.

[/QUOTE]

Those images are not shown in my observers book of birds

 

[ApusApus]

Female Ruppell's Warbler; obvious white fringes to greater coverts and tertials.


Grahame

But in female Ruppell's you would expect to see some spotting on the throat which is clearly not apparent here!


Shane

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

But in female Ruppell's you would expect to see some spotting on the throat which is clearly not apparent here!


Shane

Grey-spotting can be subdued or absent altogether.

Colins Bird Guide says ' Some spring females have dark grey on throat' while SLYVIA WARBLERS plate 5 (p488) states 'Typical ad. females have homogenous white throats. Many ad. females DO NOT have blackish on the throat'. Its the older females that look more like males.

Grahame

 

[KenM]

FWIW...here are a few images from last year of a female Ruppell's....what a variable bird?

 

[Parker]

Grey-spotting can be subdued or absent altogether.

Colins Bird Guide says ' Some spring females have dark grey on throat' while SLYVIA WARBLERS plate 5 (p488) states 'Typical ad. females have homogenous white throats. Many ad. females DO NOT have blackish on the throat'. Its the older females that look more like males.

Grahame

Agree with Grahame most of the female Ruppell's I've seen have had white throats with no dark spotting or smudging. The first bird is definitely a female Ruppell's.