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PLATE 84: PHYLLOSCOPUS WARBLERS I
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus PM
L: 11. Similar to Common Chiffchaff, with longer primary projection; darker, pale-edged flight
feathers and tertials; yellow wash on throat and breast; more distinct supercilium and pale-
centred ear-coverts (acredula greyish above, whitish below; yakutensis similar, with grey-streaked
breast). Legs pale pinkish-brown; tail-dipping much less pronounced. First-winter shows distinctly
yellow underparts. Voice Song pleasant descending whistled verse dying away at end. Call
rising, disyllabic hoo-eet. Habitat Woodland, scrub. Note Passage hatched.Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita PM, WV
L: 11. Several subspecies occur, often inseparable. All show short supercilium, broken eye-ring
(conspicuous in autumn) and dark legs; tail frequently dipped. Habitat Woodland, scrub. Note
Passage and winter hatched. At least two subspecies are separable in the field:
Scandinavian Chiffchaff P. c. abietinus (winters abundantly south to Arabia). Paler and greyer
above than collybita; buff and yellow on breast reduced, undertail-coverts whiter. Voice Song
repeated chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff..., varying geographically in structure and clarity. Wintering birds
also call peep.
Siberian Chiffchaff P. c. tristis (many reach Oman in winter). Greyish-brown above, lacking
yellow except for bend of wing and underwing, olive-green tinge on rump, wing-coverts,
scapulars and edges of flight and tail feathers. Thin supercilium often distinct, off-white to buff,
rarely a yellow trace, ear-coverts with rusty hue; entire underparts off-white, suffused buff on
breast-sides and flanks; legs and bill almost black. In fresh plumage may show indistinct wing-bar
on greater coverts. Voice Song distinctive; fast, melodious, multi-syllabic rising and falling stream;
almost unrecognisable as a chiffchaff. Call near-monosyllabic, plaintive eep.Plain Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus neglectus PM, WV
L: 9. Smallest Phylloscopus, with short tail and lacking obvious markings or any yellow; constantly
flicks wings. Plumage like greyer chiffchaffs, with brownish-grey upperparts tinged olive, shawl
greyish; indistinct, short, pale buff to cream supercilium, narrow white eye-ring, dusky lores and
eye-stripe, and buff-flecked ear-coverts. Underparts off-white, washed creamy on flanks. Legs
and fine bill dark brown. Forages actively in cover; often hovers outside or below canopy. Voice
Short, quiet tinkling song often heard in winter, pt toodla toodla. Call excitable, hard t-jick or tdd,
commonly repeated. Habitat Scrub and trees in winter. Note Winter hatched; common N Oman
and Musandam.Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler Phylloscopus orientalis V
L: 12. Size similar to Willow Warbler but mantle and more rounded head distinctly grey,
contrasting dark tertials (fringed yellowish) with obvious green edges to wing and tail feathers;
underparts silky-white; face ‘washed-out’ with large dark eye accentuated by narrow white eye-
ring, usually pale lores, pale ear-coverts and indistinct supercilium. If seen well, yellowish-green
rump distinctive. Confusable with pale Common Chiffchaff, but has plain head and longer primary
projection; told from Booted Warbler by face pattern and well-marked tertials. Voice Call a short,
flat chip. Habitat Woodland, scrub. Note Passage hatched; vagrant Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi
Arabia (Gulf).Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix pm
L: 12.5. Large, long-winged Phylloscopus, brightly coloured, showing vivid green upperparts
with yellow supercilium, ear-coverts, throat and upper breast contrasting with gleaming white
underparts; yellow-fringed secondaries form pale panel contrasting with blackish, whitish-
fringed tertials; black alula, yellow bill and pale legs. From Green Warbler by different wing pattern
including lack of wing-bar; from other Phylloscopus also by very long wings, striking plumage,
particularly head pattern and brightly fringed secondaries. Rare greyer individuals, recalling Eastern
Bonelli’s Warbler, told by strength of supercilium, long wings (still contrastingly fringed) and larger
size. Rather active, often high in trees. Voice Call a clear melancholy deeu-deeu-deeu but usually
silent on migration. Habitat Woodland and tall trees, also scrub. Note Passage hatched; scarce in
Arabia.