- Phylloscopus yunnanensis
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.
Distribution
Breeds in central and north-eastern China - East Qinghai, South Gansu, Shanxi and Hebei to Sichuan and Shaanxi probably wintering in South East Asia.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
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.
Habitat
Breeds in mountain forests primarily in low deciduous broadleaf secondary growth with mixed Spruce or Fir trees usually between 1000-2800m.
Behaviour
Vocalisation
Song is a distinctive, mechanical and rather strident 'tsiridi-tsiridi-tsiridi-tsiridi'.
Recording by china guy, Sichuan, June 2011
References
- Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Chinese Leaf Warbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Chinese_Leaf_Warbler
