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Eastern Subalpine Warbler - BirdForum Opus

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Photo © by scottishdude
Lesvos
Curruca cantillans

Identification

12cm (4¾ in)
Adult male

  • Grey back and head
  • Brick-red underparts
  • White malar streaks

Female has mainly brown upperparts with a greyer head. Whitish below with a pink flush.
Variation: males of the subspecies may or may not be identifiable in spring[7].

Distribution

Europe, Africa, and Middle East
Europe: Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Crete, Corfu, Lesvos, Rhodes, Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova. Found outside these areas on migration or as vagrants.
Africa: wintering population in the areas surrounding the Sahara.
Middle East: Breeds in Turkey and Cyprus, visits other areas during migration.
Vagrants regularly arrive in the British Isles, particularly in the Spring.

Taxonomy

Moltoni's Warbler and Western Subalpine Warbler were formerly considered conspecific with this species.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized[1].

  • S. c. cantillans:
  • breeds Italy (except for Sardinia); winter range not well-defined, presumably in western Sahara and western Sahel
  • S. c. albistriata:

Habitat

Breeds in a variety of habitats, from open woodland to bushes and sandy heaths.

Behaviour

Breeding

The nest is built in thick bushes. Three to five eggs are laid.

Diet

Mainly insects, but will eat berries on occasion.

Vocalisation

Call: similar to Lesser Whitethroat's tett
Song: Clear and slow chattering and bouncy phrases, reminiscent of Eurasian Linnet. Delivered in 'song flight' or from a bush.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Birdforum thread discussing the status of Moltoni's Warbler
  3. Avibase
  4. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
  5. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
  6. Birdforum thread discussing subspecies identification

Recommended Citation

External Links


GSearch checked for 2020 platform.

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