Warbler id please? At Madhurekere, North Bangalore, India today (1 Viewer)

[rsriram9]

Hi, can you help with this warbler id please? Saw this in the shrubs by the dry lake bed of Madhurekere, North Bangalore, India today.
Thanks, Sriram

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

I have promised myself not to comment on a species, that I lack experience with, but I cant hesitate here: if I would see this bird in Europe, I would ID it as a Booted Warbler. I hope, this is the right answer, and I am lightyears away from the Booted vs Sykes problem.

Sorry, I shouldnt post this, but its too late now

 

[Hotspur]

Paddyfield?

 

[Deb Burhinus]

The short pp, emarginations on p3, p4 (p5?), general sandy tones, two tone ’chunky’ bill make me think Blyth’s but may be well out of the ball park with this one!

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

Alexander is absolutely correct, it is a Booted Warbler. Clearly an Iduna, compared to Sykes's note rounded head and medium length tail, rather short bill with dark distal smudge to lower mandible and more marked face pattern; broad pale supercilium extends to rear ear coverts and thin dark loral line. Deb, it's emarganated p3-p6.

Grahame

 

[Butty]

If I see Acro and Phyllosc in one bird (and if I'm somewhere appropriate), I tend to think booted/Sykes's. And then ask someone else

 

[rsriram9]

Thanks very much everyone!

 

[andyb39]

Alexander is absolutely correct, it is a Booted Warbler. Clearly an Iduna, compared to Sykes's note rounded head and medium length tail, rather short bill with dark distal smudge to lower mandible and more marked face pattern; broad pale supercilium extends to rear ear coverts and thin dark loral line. Deb, it's emarganated p3-p6.

Grahame

That does appear to be the case. I thought only Sykes's could be emarginated on P6 though?

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

Not so Andy, I thought I had commented to that effect on a previous thread? Such is the overlap in wing formulae/biometrics between the two that there are instances (uncommon) where a bird cannot be identified without a feather sample. LS gives the following values for emarganated p6; Sykes's Warbler c45% strong, c50% weak and c5% absent and for Booted values are c25% strong, c55% weak and c20% absent. So, it is not diagnostic, but one of multi characters that needs to b taken into account.

Grahame

 

[andyb39]

Not so Andy, I thought I had commented to that effect on a previous thread? Such is the overlap in wing formulae/biometrics between the two that there are instances (uncommon) where a bird cannot be identified without a feather sample. LS gives the following values for emarganated p6; Sykes's Warbler c45% strong, c50% weak and c5% absent and for Booted values are c25% strong, c55% weak and c20% absent. So, it is not diagnostic, but one of multi characters that needs to b taken into account.

Grahame

Yes, you did comment on wing formula on a thread a few years back, which I was quoting, or probably misquoting, from. I expect I recalled wrongly, apologies.

In any case it looks like a fairly typical Booted.

 

[KenM]

FWIW rsrimram9 excellent images! showing all the salient features for Booted👍

 

[andyb39]

Sykes's is emarginated 3, 4, 5 and usually slightly 6 whereas, in Booted only occasionally slightly 6.

Grahame, this is from your post that I was referring to. So Booted can have an emarginated P6, apologies.

 

[rsriram9]

FWIW rsrimram9 excellent images! showing all the salient features for Booted👍

Thanks @KenM!