From Opus

Photo by rockfowl
Location: Zushan FP, China

Phylloscopus yunnanensis

[edit] Identification

9-10cm A small, relatively robust warbler, very similar in structure and plumage to Pallas's Leaf Warbler. Overall, this is a much duller, more subtle species, generally lacking the brighter more vivid greens of Pallas's.

Of the prominent head stripes, the Median crownstripe is a pale greyish, much stronger at the rear often looking like a pale spot on the rear crown. The lateral crownstripe a dark olive brown though often with a greyish cast and darker at the rear and strong supercilium is greyish white/buff in front of the eye becoming whiter and more striking at the rear, dark eyestripe and dull buff/grey ear-coverts.

Upperparts greyish-green with a defined off white rump; upperwing brownish-grey with brighter green outer edging; pale median covert tips forming a pale wing bar, greater median coverts dark with whitish tips forming a prominent wingbar, pale tips to tertials on outer web.

Underparts whitish often with some pale lemon wash and greyish wash to the breast sides.

Bill blackish with a yellowish basal half to the lower mandible; legs usually dark sometimes with a flesh tinge.

[edit] Distribution

Breeds in C and NE China - East Qinghai, South Gansu, Shanxi and Hebei to Sichuan and Shaanxi probably wintering in S E Asia.

[edit] Taxonomy

See the page for Pallas's Leaf Warbler, taxonomy section, for details on the fact that this species used to be lumped with three others.

[edit] Habitat

Breeds in mountain forests primarily in low deciduous broadleaf secondary growth with mixed Spruce or Fir trees usually between 1000-2800m.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Vocalisation

Song is a distinctive, mechanical and rather strident 'tsiridi-tsiridi-tsiridi-tsiridi'

[edit] External Links

The following link will search the gallery for images of this species, however, none were found at the time of editing.