Warbler ID Mallorca, Spain (1 Viewer)

[Mergus1]

Hi guys,

seen this warbler in Cabrera National Park, Mallorca, on April 17th. It´s been a pretty good day for migration and the island's bushes were full of birds. This one didn´t quite fit with my impression of the other western subalpine warblers I´ve seen there. Also the call was a bit more blackcap-ish. You think there´s a chance for eastern subalpine? Or even Moltonis? All three have been recorded on the island this spring.

Thanks for helping out!

Cheers
Marcel

 

[andyb39]

In the second image the bird looks quite like Moltoni's with that pinkish throat and breast and slightly blue-grey head and mantle. On the other hand, the wash on the underparts looks a bit too extensive in the first image and your description of the call doesn't sound right for Moltoni's, which has a rattling call. It doesn't appear to have a full red orbital ring, so it may be a male Western that has not reached full maturity. The slight dark lower border to the cheek may also be better for Western.

 

[Evan Atkinson]

I was thinking a subalpine warbler species maybe western? I concur with the points Andy stated. Is there any way to differentiate eastern and western subalpine warblers without taking DNA samples?

 

[Bewick]

I was thinking a subalpine warbler species maybe western? I concur with the points Andy stated. Is there any way to differentiate eastern and western subalpine warblers without taking DNA samples?

Believe you can with inspection of the tail feathers.